Gaming benefits provided in association with accumulated advertising loyalty points

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods that employ advertising loyalty points to modify zero, one or more aspects of an electronic gaming machine.

BACKGROUND

In various embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to theutilization of advertising loyalty points to determine one or morebenefits in association with a gaming session.

Gaming machines may provide players awards in primary games. Gamingmachines generally require the player to place a wager to activate theprimary game. The award may be based on the player obtaining a winningsymbol or symbol combination and on the amount of the wager.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a gamingsystem including a processor, and a memory device that stores aplurality of instructions. When executed by the processor, theinstructions cause the processor to identify a user and determine anadvertising loyalty point level associated with the identified user.When executed by the processor responsive to the identified user beingassociated with a first advertising loyalty point level and a triggeringevent occurring, the instructions cause the processor to determine afirst modification of a play of a game, and cause a display device todisplay the determined first modification of the play of the game. Whenexecuted by the processor responsive to the identified user beingassociated with a second, different advertising loyalty point level andthe triggering event occurring, the instructions cause the processor todetermine a second, different modification of the play of the game, andcause the display device to display the determined second, differentmodification of the play of the game.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates a gaming systemincluding a processor, and a memory device that stores a plurality ofinstructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause theprocessor to identify a user, determine an advertising loyalty pointlevel associated with the identified user, and determine a quantity ofaccumulated advertising loyalty points associated with the identifieduser. When executed by the processor responsive to the determinedadvertising loyalty point level being a first advertising loyalty pointlevel, the determined quantity of accumulated advertising loyalty pointsbeing a first quantity of accumulated advertising loyalty points and atriggering event occurring, the instructions cause the processor todetermine a first benefit, and cause a display device to display thedetermined first benefit. When executed by the processor responsive tothe determined advertising loyalty point level being the firstadvertising loyalty point level, the determined quantity of accumulatedadvertising loyalty points being a second, different quantity ofaccumulated advertising loyalty points and the triggering eventoccurring, the instructions cause the processor to determine a second,different benefit, and cause the display device to display thedetermined second, different benefit. When executed by the processorresponsive to the determined advertising loyalty point level being asecond, different advertising loyalty point level, the determinedquantity of accumulated advertising loyalty points being the firstquantity of accumulated advertising loyalty points and the triggeringevent occurring, the instructions cause the processor to determine thesecond, different benefit, and cause the display device to display thedetermined second, different benefit.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method ofoperating a gaming system including identifying, by a processor, a user,and determining, by the processor, an advertising loyalty point levelassociated with the identified user. Responsive to the identified userbeing associated with a first advertising loyalty point level and atriggering event occurring, the method includes determining, by theprocessor, a first modification of a play of a game, and displaying, bya display device, the determined first modification of the play of thegame. Responsive to the identified user being associated with a second,different advertising loyalty point level and the triggering eventoccurring, the method includes determining, by the processor, a second,different modification of the play of the game, and displaying, by thedisplay device, the determined second, different modification of theplay of the game.

Additional features are described herein, and will be apparent from thefollowing Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a flow chart of an example process of one embodiment of thepresent disclosure illustrating the accumulation of advertising loyaltypoints in association with a user undertaking certain advertiser relatedactivities remote from a gaming establishment.

FIG. 1B is a flow chart of an example process of one embodiment of thepresent disclosure illustrating the utilization of a quantity ofaccumulated advertising loyalty points in association with a benefitprovided to a user at a gaming establishment device.

FIG. 2A is an example graphical user interface displayed to a user inassociation with viewing advertisements.

FIG. 2B is an example graphical user interface displayed to a user inassociation with accumulating advertising loyalty points for viewingadvertisements.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an electronicconfiguration of an example gaming system of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of example alternative embodimentsof the gaming system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4C is a front view of an example personal gaming device of thesystem of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In various embodiments, the systems and methods of the presentdisclosure provide a gaming currency in the form of advertising loyaltypoints which are in addition to and different than certain current knowngaming establishment currencies, such as monetary credits, promotionalcredits and player tracking points. The advertising loyalty points ofthe present disclosure are accumulated based on a user undertakingcertain advertiser related activities, such as viewing advertisementsassociated with the gaming establishment while remote from the gamingestablishment. The advertising loyalty points of the present disclosureare further utilized to obtain one or more benefits at an electronicgaming machine (“EGM”) wherein different quantities of accumulatedadvertising loyalty points are associated with different advertisingloyalty point levels associated with different benefits, such asdifferent modifications of the EGM. Accordingly, unlike certain gamingcurrencies which are accumulated based on a player's gaming activitiesat one or more EGMs, the advertising loyalty points of the presentdisclosure are accumulated independent of a player's gaming activitiesat any EGMs, thus freeing the player up from having to remain at agaming establishment without forcing the player to forgo earningbenefits to be subsequently used at the gaming establishment.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are flowcharts of example processes or methods ofoperating the system of the present disclosure. In various embodiments,the processes are represented by a set of instructions stored in one ormore memories and executed by one or more processors. Although theprocesses are described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIGS.1A and 1B, many other processes of performing the acts associated withthese illustrated processes may be employed. For example, the order ofcertain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be changed, certain ofthe illustrated blocks or diamonds may be optional, or certain of theillustrated blocks or diamonds may not be employed.

In certain embodiments, upon an occurrence of a user identificationevent, as indicated by block 102 of FIG. 1A, the system enables a userto log into an advertisement tracking account associated with the user.In these embodiments, to track the advertisements a user views andreward the user with advertising loyalty points, the system must firstidentify the user and the user's advertisement tracking account to whichany earned advertising loyalty points are associated with.

In certain embodiments, wherein the user earns advertising loyaltypoints for viewing advertisements remote from an EGM of a gamingestablishment and the system includes or is otherwise in communicationwith a gaming establishment player tracking system of a gamingestablishment customer management system, the user identification occursin association with a user logging into the player tracking system froma device remote from an EGM of a gaming establishment, such as apersonal device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet computer, a desktopcomputer, or a laptop computer). In these embodiments, upon receivinguser identification data which logs the user into the player trackingsystem, the one or more servers of the player tracking systemcommunicate user identification data to one or more advertisementtracking servers which log the user into the advertisement trackingaccount associated with the user. As such, in these embodiments, thesystem utilizes the logging in of a user to a player tracking account ofa player tracking system as a gateway to log the user into anadvertisement tracking account.

In certain embodiments wherein the user earns advertising loyalty pointsfor viewing advertisements from a device associated with a gamingestablishment and system includes or is otherwise in communication witha gaming establishment player tracking system of a gaming establishmentcustomer management system, the user identification occurs inassociation with a user logging into the player tracking system from agaming establishment device, such as an EGM. In these embodiments, uponreceiving user identification data which logs the user into the playertracking system, the one or more servers of the player tracking systemcommunicate user identification data to one or more advertisementtracking servers which log the user into the advertisement trackingaccount associated with the user.

In certain embodiments wherein the user earns advertising loyalty pointsfor viewing advertisements remote from an EGM of a gaming establishmentand the system is separate from and not in communication with a gamingestablishment player tracking system, the user identification occurs inassociation with a user logging into the advertisement tracking from adevice remote from an EGM of a gaming establishment and the devicecommunicating user identification data to one or more advertisementtracking servers which log the user into the advertisement trackingaccount associated with the user. As such, in these embodiments, thesystem enables a user to directly log into an advertisement trackingaccount.

In certain other embodiments wherein the user earns advertising loyaltypoints for viewing advertisements from a device associated with a gamingestablishment and the system is separate from and not in communicationwith a gaming establishment player tracking system, the useridentification occurs in association with a user logging into theadvertisement tracking from a gaming establishment device, such as anEGM, and the EGM communicating user identification data to one or moreadvertisement tracking servers which log the user into the advertisementtracking account associated with the user.

It should be appreciated that while, in certain embodiments, the usermay earn advertising loyalty points for viewing advertisements from adevice that is remote from an EGM of a gaming establishment (e.g., apersonal device) and while, in certain embodiments, the user mayadditionally or alternatively earn advertising loyalty points forviewing advertisements from a device associated with a gamingestablishment (e.g., an EGM), for brevity and unless specifically statedotherwise, such devices which enable a user to consume advertisementswill be referred to herein as “advertisement viewing devices”. In theseembodiments, the user logs into an advertisement tracking account viaone or more of: the user presenting an advertisement trackingidentification card (that has an encoded user identification number thatuniquely identifies the user) to an advertisement viewing device, suchas a user inserting the advertisement tracking identification card to acard reader of an advertisement viewing device, the user presenting aplayer tracking card that functions as an advertisement trackingidentification card (that has an encoded user identification number thatuniquely identifies the user) to an advertisement viewing device, suchas a user inserting the player tracking card to a card reader of anadvertisement viewing device, a user accessing a website, such as agaming website or a non-gaming website, via an Internet browser of theadvertisement viewing device and identifying themselves to one or moreservers, such as by inputting the user's unique username and passwordcombination, a user launching an application installed on theadvertisement viewing device and identifying themselves to one or moreservers, such as by inputting the user's unique username and passwordcombination, an establishment of a wireless communication link betweenan advertisement viewing device and a mobile device executing anapplication associated with an identified user; the utilization of anysuitable biometric technology or ticket technology to identify a userassociated with an advertisement tracking account.

Following the user logging into the advertisement tracking accountassociated with the user (and assuming the user has not opted out ofviewing advertisements), upon an occurrence of an advertising displayevent, the system causes the advertisement viewing device to display anadvertisement as indicated in block 104. For example, upon an occurrenceof an advertising display event, one or more servers of theadvertisement tracking determine content to be displayed as anadvertisement and send the determined content to the advertisementviewing device which displays the determined content.

In certain embodiments, the advertisement tracking server encodes theadvertisement within the video otherwise being displayed by theadvertisement viewing device. For example, as seen in FIG. 2A, if theuser is watching a stream of a game being played by another player at anEGM in a gaming establishment via the advertisement viewing device 202,the advertisement viewing device displays the streamed game 204 and anadvertisement or logo 206 associated with the gaming establishmentwherein the EGM being played is located at. In another example, theadvertisement includes an embedded audio/video clip, such as apromotional audio/video clip of an upcoming event at a gamingestablishment along with advertising text describing how to obtaintickets. In certain embodiments, the advertisement tracking serverutilizes a picture-in-picture format in causing the advertisementviewing device to display the advertisement. In certain embodiments, theadvertisement tracking server utilizes one or more video integrationsystems to cause the advertisement viewing device to display integratedcontent including the advertisement and the content otherwise beingviewed by the user on the advertisement viewing device. In certainembodiments, the advertisement tracking server causes the advertisementviewing device to display the advertisement before, during and/or afterthe content otherwise being viewed by the user on the advertisementviewing device.

In certain embodiments, the displayed advertisement includes one or morecontent components in one or more media formats. In these embodiments,such content components include one or more of: still images (e.g., alogo or name of a sponsor), video clips (e.g., a video recordingillustrating a good and/or service offered by a sponsor), sound clips,augmented still images, augmented video clips, augmented sound clips,audio-video clips, text (e.g., an advertisement promoting an upcomingevent at a gaming establishment), wagering transaction information (ifthe advertisement is displayed in association with any wagering game),location information, application usage information, event attendanceinformation, and/or biometric information. In certain embodiments,different content components of the advertisement are combinable withcontextual information, such as information about the person, place andtime, and then formatted to generate the advertisement.

In certain embodiments, the displayed advertisement is associated withone or more aspects of a gaming establishment, such as advertisementsfor the gaming establishment itself, one or more venues associated withthe gaming establishment (e.g., restaurants within the gamingestablishment), and/or one or more events offered at the gamingestablishment (e.g., an upcoming tournament at the gamingestablishment). In certain embodiments, the displayed advertisement isassociated with one or more third-parties associated with a gamingestablishment, such as advertisements for a manufacturer of an EGMlocated within a gaming establishment or advertisements promotingresponsible gaming guidelines. In certain other embodiments, thedisplayed advertisement is associated with one or more third-partiesindependent of the gaming establishment, such as sponsors wishing toadvertise their brands, goods and/or services. It should be appreciatedthat the system determines which advertisements to display inassociation with any suitable form or format of online advertising, suchas, but not limited to, utilizing one or more integrated internetadvertisement engines, and/or an advertisement auction system todetermine which advertisements to display and when.

In certain embodiments, the advertiser associated with the displayedadvertisement contributes an amount of funds to an advertisement pool inexchange for one or more of advertisements being displayed. In certainsuch embodiments, different advertisements are associated with differentcosts to the advertiser wherein factors such as the length of theadvertisement, the placement of the advertisements, the format of theadvertisement, the day/time when the advertisement is displayed at leastpartially determine the cost associated with a particular advertisement.In these embodiments, the system utilizes the amount of fundscontributed to the advertisement pool to fund one or more benefitsprovided to one or more users whom have achieved one or more advertisingloyalty point levels as described below.

In addition to causing the advertisement viewing device to display oneor more advertisements upon an occurrence of an advertising displayevent, the system determines if an advertising loyalty pointaccumulation event occurred in association with the advertisementviewing device displaying the advertisement as indicated in diamond 106of FIG. 1A. In these embodiments, in addition to displaying one or moreadvertisements to a user, the system tracks such displayedadvertisements as they pertain to whether or not any advertising loyaltypoints should be accumulated for the identified user.

In certain embodiments, the system determines if an advertising loyaltypoint accumulation event occurred in association with a displayedadvertisement based on a quantity of advertisements displayed to theuser. In these embodiments, the system tracks the quantity ofadvertisements displayed to the user and upon determining that thetracked quantity of advertisements displayed to the user at leastreaches a threshold quantity, the system causes an advertising loyaltypoint accumulation event to occur. In certain such embodiments, thethreshold quantity is one advertisement such that each time anadvertisement is displayed to a user, an advertising loyalty pointaccumulation event occurs. In certain other embodiments, the thresholdquantity is more than one advertisement such that each time anadvertisement is displayed to a user, an advertising loyalty pointaccumulation event may or may not occur.

In certain embodiments, the system determines if an advertising loyaltypoint accumulation event occurred in association with a displayedadvertisement based on an amount of time one or more advertisements aredisplayed to the user. In these embodiments, the system tracks theamount of time that advertisements are displayed to the user and upondetermining that the tracked amount of time at least reaches a thresholdamount of time, the system causes an advertising loyalty pointaccumulation event to occur.

In certain embodiments, the system determines if an advertising loyaltypoint accumulation event occurred based on one or more characteristicsof the displayed advertisement. In these embodiments, differentadvertisements are associated with different characteristics that may ormay not cause an advertising loyalty point accumulation event to occur.For example, a first displayed advertisement associated with a firstadvertised product is not associated with an occurrence of anadvertising loyalty point accumulation event while a second displayedadvertisement associated with a second, different advertised product isassociated with an occurrence of an advertising loyalty pointaccumulation event. In another example, a first displayed advertisementof a first length of time is not associated with an occurrence of anadvertising loyalty point accumulation event while a second displayedadvertisement of a second, different length of time is associated withan occurrence of an advertising loyalty point accumulation event. Inanother example, a first advertisement displayed in a first format, suchas a still image advertisement, is not associated with an occurrence ofan advertising loyalty point accumulation event while a secondadvertisement displayed in a second, different format, such as a videoadvertisement, is associated with an occurrence of an advertisingloyalty point accumulation event.

In certain embodiments, the system determines if an advertising loyaltypoint accumulation event occurred based on one or more characteristicsof a user which the advertisement is displayed to. In these embodiments,different users and/or different user activities are associated withdifferent characteristics wherein the same displayed advertisementand/or number of displayed advertisements displayed to different usersmay or may not cause an advertising loyalty point accumulation event tooccur. For example, an advertisement displayed to a first user of afirst advertising loyalty level is not associated with an occurrence ofan advertising loyalty point accumulation event while the sameadvertisement displayed to a second user of a second, differentadvertising loyalty level is associated with an occurrence of anadvertising loyalty point accumulation event. In another example, anadvertisement displayed to a user in association with that user wageringa first amount of funds on one or more plays of one or more online gamesis not associated with an occurrence of an advertising loyalty pointaccumulation event while the same advertisement displayed to a user inassociation with that user wagering a second, different amount of fundson one or more plays of one or more online games is associated with anoccurrence of an advertising loyalty point accumulation event.

It should be appreciated that in certain embodiments, the system employsone or more measures to monitor if the user displayed the advertisementis or is not viewing the displayed advertisement. In one suchembodiment, during and/or following the display of the advertisement,the system prompts the user to make one or more inputs, via an inputdevice of the advertisement viewing device, to confirm they watched thedisplayed advertisement and/or answer one or more questions relating tothe displayed advertisement. In another such embodiment, during thedisplay of the advertisement, the system additionally or alternativelyutilizes an eye gaze data capture device, such as one or more eye gazedata capture cameras that monitor a user's eye gaze, to determine wherethe user is looking at to at least partially determine if the userwatched the displayed advertisement. In another such embodiment, duringthe display of the advertisement, the system additionally oralternatively utilizes one or more sensors to determine if the user isin proximity to the advertisement viewing device to determine whetherthe user may hear any audio portion of the advertisement. In theseembodiments, if the system determines that the user is notwatching/listening to the advertisement, the system designates theadvertisement as an ineligible advertisement that cannot be associatedwith the accumulation of any advertising loyalty points.

If the system determines that the advertising loyalty point accumulationevent did not occur, the system returns to block 104 of FIG. 1A andawaits another occurrence of an advertising display event. In otherwords, even if no advertising loyalty point accumulation event occurredin association with one displayed advertisement, the system provides theuser another opportunity for an advertising loyalty point accumulationevent to occur in association with another displayed advertisement.

On the other hand, if the system determines that an advertising loyaltypoint accumulation event occurred, the system determines a quantity ofadvertising loyalty points in association with the occurrence of theadvertising loyalty point accumulation event as indicated in block 108.Put differently, if the display of the advertisement via theadvertisement viewing device warranted an accumulation of one or moreadvertising loyalty points, the system determines a number ofadvertising loyalty points to accumulate.

In certain embodiments, the system determines a quantity of advertisingloyalty points based on a quantity of advertisements displayed to theuser. In certain other embodiments, the system additionally oralternatively determines a quantity of advertising loyalty points basedon an amount of time one or more advertisements are displayed to theuser. In certain other embodiments, the system additionally oralternatively determines a quantity of advertising loyalty points basedon one or more characteristics of the displayed advertisement. Incertain other embodiments, the system additionally or alternativelydetermines a quantity of advertising loyalty points based on one or morecharacteristics of the user whom the advertisement was displayed to.

Following the determination of a quantity of advertising loyalty pointsassociated with the occurrence of advertising loyalty point accumulationevent, the system accumulates the determined quantity of advertisingloyalty points in association with the advertisement tracking accountassociated with the user as indicated in block 110 of FIG. 1A. In theseembodiments, as a reward for viewing one or more advertisements, thesystem of the present disclosure accumulates one or more advertisingloyalty points in an account associated with the user. For example, asseen in FIG. 2B after a user at an advertisement viewing device 202viewed a threshold quantity of advertisements 206 in association withviewing a stream of a game being played at an EGM 204, the systemdetermines that an advertising loyalty point accumulation event occurredbased on such displayed advertisements and credited the advertisementtracking account associated with the user with an advertising loyaltypoint 208.

Following the accumulation of the determined quantity of advertisingloyalty points in association with the advertisement tracking accountassociated with the user, the system returns to block 104 and awaitsanother occurrence of an advertising display event. In other words,following an occurrence of an advertising loyalty point accumulationevent and the subsequent accumulation of one or more advertising loyaltypoints, the system provides the user additional opportunities foradditional advertising loyalty point accumulation events to occur inassociation with another displayed advertisement.

In addition to accumulating zero, one or more advertising loyalty pointsin association with viewing advertisements via an advertisement viewingdevice, the system of the present disclosure further enables the user toutilize any accumulated advertising loyalty points in association withthe user's gaming experience. That is, upon the user engaging one ormore EGMs at a gaming establishment, the system utilizes the previouslyaccumulated advertising loyalty points to influence the user'sinteractions with such EGMs.

In certain embodiments, similar to the above-described scenario of auser logging into the advertisement tracking account to accumulateadvertising loyalty points in exchange for viewing advertisements whileremote from an EGM at a gaming establishment, upon an occurrence of auser identification event at an EGM, as indicated by block 152 of FIG.1B, the system enables a user to log into an advertisement trackingaccount associated with the user. By logging into the same advertisementtracking account which any previously accumulated advertising loyaltypoints are associated with, the system enables the user to utilize anyearned advertising loyalty points as part of their gaming establishmentexperience.

In certain embodiments, the user identification occurs in associationwith a user logging into a player tracking system from the EGM whereinthe EGM communicates user identification data to a player trackingsystem which logs the user into a player tracking account associatedwith the user. In these embodiments, upon receiving the useridentification data, one or more servers of the player tracking systemcommunicate user identification data to one or more advertisementtracking servers which also logs the user into the advertisementtracking account associated with the user. In certain other embodiments,the user identification occurs in association with a user logging intothe advertisement tracking directly from the EGM separate from the userlogging into a player tracking system. In these embodiments, the EGMcommunicates user identification data to one or more advertisementtracking servers which log the user into the advertisement trackingaccount associated with the user. In various embodiments, the user logsinto an advertisement tracking account from an EGM via one or more of:the user presenting an advertisement tracking identification card (thathas an encoded user identification number that uniquely identifies theuser) to the EGM, such as a user inserting the advertisement trackingidentification card to a card reader of the EGM, the user presenting aplayer tracking card that functions as an advertisement trackingidentification card (that has an encoded player identification numberthat uniquely identifies the user) to an EGM, such as a user insertingthe player tracking card to a card reader of an EGM, an establishment ofa wireless communication link between an EGM and a mobile deviceexecuting an application associated with an identified user; theutilization of any suitable biometric technology or ticket technology toidentify a user associated with an advertisement tracking account.

It should be appreciated that the term “EGM” is used herein to refer toany suitable electronic gaming machine which enables a player place oneor more wagers on one or more games of chance, games of skill and/orsporting event outcomes, play one or more games of chance or games ofskill, and/or view one or more sporting events and/or advertisementswherein the EGM comprises, but is not limited to: a slot machine, avideo poker machine, a video lottery terminal, a terminal associatedwith an electronic table game, a video keno machine, a video bingomachine, or a sports betting terminal. It should be further appreciatedthat while described herein in certain embodiments as an EGM interactingwith one or more advertisement tracking servers to access anadvertisement tracking account associated with a user, in certainembodiments, a component of a gaming establishment management system,such as a slot machine interface board, in communication with the EGMinteracts with the advertisement tracking server (and the EGM) tofacilitate the system of the present disclosure. As such, any suitableaction, function or interaction performed by or otherwise associatedwith an EGM (in association with the EGM interacting with theadvertisement tracking server of the present disclosure) mayadditionally or alternatively be performed by or otherwise associatedwith another component of the gaming system, such as a slot machineinterface board or other component of a gaming establishment managementsystem either operating in combination with the EGM or operatingindependent of the EGM.

In certain embodiments, in association with identifying the user whomhas previously viewed zero, one or more advertisements associated withzero, one or more advertisers, the system enables the advertisers tointeract with the user when at the gaming establishment. For example,following the system determining that the quantity of advertisements fora product and/or service displayed to the user exceeded a thresholdquantity, subject to advertiser approval, the system causes one or morecoupons or vouchers associated with the advertised product and/orservice to be made available to the user, such as being printed by aprinter of an EGM or accessible by an application of a mobile device ofthe user.

Following the user logging into the advertisement tracking accountassociated with the user from an EGM, as indicated in block 154 of FIG.1B, the system determines, based on the quantity of advertising loyaltypoints associated with the user's advertisement tracking account, anadvertising loyalty point level associated with the user. In theseembodiments, different quantities of accumulated advertising loyaltypoints are associated with different advertising loyalty point levels(which are associated with different benefits as described below). Forexample, under one-hundred accumulated advertising loyalty points (whichcorrespond to under one-hundred advertisements viewed) is associatedwith a silver advertising loyalty point level, between one-hundred andfive-hundred accumulated advertising loyalty points (which correspond tobetween one-hundred and five-hundred advertisements viewed) isassociated with a gold advertising loyalty point level, and overfive-hundred accumulated advertising loyalty points (which correspond toover five-hundred advertisements viewed) is associated with a platinumadvertising loyalty point level.

Following the determination of an advertising loyalty point levelassociated with the user, the system determines if an advertisingloyalty point benefit realization event occurred as indicated in diamond156 of FIG. 1B. In these embodiments, in addition to determining anadvertising loyalty point level based on one or more advertisementviewing activities, such as viewing advertisements remote from the EGM,the system determines whether or not any triggering event occurs at orin association with the EGM (or the user) to cause a benefit to berealized in association with the advertisement viewing activities.

In certain embodiments, an advertising loyalty point benefit realizationevent occurs based on upon a determination that an identified user isassociated with an advertisement tracking account. In certainembodiments, an advertising loyalty point benefit realization eventoccurs based on upon a determination that an identified user isassociated with an advertisement tracking account of at least adesignated advertising loyalty point level. In certain embodiments, anadvertising loyalty point benefit realization event occurs based on anevent displayed during a play of a game at the EGM. In certainembodiments, an advertising loyalty point benefit realization eventoccurs based on an event that is independent of any event displayed inassociation with a game played at the EGM. In certain embodiments, anadvertising loyalty point benefit realization event occurs based on oneor more inputs made by the user and/or gaming establishment personnel,such as an input made to redeem a quantity of advertising loyalty pointsin exchange for an occurrence of an advertising loyalty point benefitrealization event.

If the system determines that an advertising loyalty point benefitrealization event occurred, the system determines one or more benefitsin association with the advertising loyalty point level associated withthe user and causes the determined benefits to be provided to the useras indicated in blocks 158 and 160. That is, upon a determination thatproviding one or more benefits to the user is warranted, the systemdetermines the scope of such benefits based on the determinedadvertising loyalty point level associated with the user (which isdetermined based on the user's activities viewing one or moreadvertisements) and makes such benefits available to the user.

In certain embodiments, as mentioned above, the system contributes partor all of the fees paid by the sponsors associated with the viewedadvertisements to a pool, such as a benefit amount pool. In theseembodiments, the system utilizes the amount of funds accumulated in thebenefit amount pool to fund the benefits provided to the user inassociation with the occurrence of the advertising loyalty point benefitrealization event. In certain other embodiments, the funding of thebenefits provided in association with the occurrence of the advertisingloyalty point benefit realization event occurs based on other fundingavenues, such as based on a portion of wagers placed and/or gamingestablishment marketing funds.

In certain embodiments, the determined benefit includes one or more free(or reduced cost) plays of one or more games of chance (or games ofskill). In one such embodiment, a quantity of plays of the game ofchance (or game of skill) is based on the advertising loyalty pointlevel associated with the user, wherein different advertising loyaltypoint levels are associated with different quantities of plays of thegame of chance (or game of skill). In another such embodiment, aquantity of plays of the game of chance (or game of skill) isadditionally or alternatively based on an identification of the user,such as based on a player tracking status of the user and/or a frequencywhich the user transacts with the gaming establishment, whereindifferent users are associated with different quantities of plays of thegame of chance (or game of skill). In these embodiments, such games ofchance (or games of skill) include, but are not limited to: a play ofany suitable slot game; a play of any suitable wheel game; a play of anysuitable card game (including any suitable type of poker game, such as,but not limited to, a multiple hand poker game, Texas Hold'em, Omaha,Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Seven Card Stud, Pai Gow Poker,Caribbean Stud Poker, or Let It Ride Poker, as well as other suitablenon-poker interactive cards games, such as, but not limited to,blackjack, Baccarat, Spanish 21, Casino War, Super Fun 21, or VegasThree Card Rummy), a play of any suitable offer and acceptance game; aplay of any suitable award ladder game; a play of any suitablepuzzle-type game; a play of any suitable persistence game; a play of anysuitable selection game; a play of any suitable cascading symbols game;a play of any suitable ways to win game; a play of any suitable scatterpay game; a play of any suitable coin-pusher game; a play of anysuitable elimination game; a play of any suitable stacked wilds game; aplay of any suitable trail game; a play of any suitable bingo game; aplay of any suitable video scratch-off game; a play of any suitablepick-until-complete game; a play of any suitable shooting simulationgame; a play of any suitable racing game; a play of any suitablepromotional game; a play of any suitable high-low game; a play of anysuitable lottery game; a play of any suitable number selection game; aplay of any suitable dice game; a play of any suitable skill game; aplay of any suitable auction game; a play of any suitablereverse-auction game; a play of any suitable group game; a play of anysuitable game in a service window of an EGM; a play of any suitable gameon a mobile device; and/or a play of any suitable game of the presentdisclosure.

In certain embodiments, the determined benefit includes one or more free(or reduced cost) wagers placed, such as one or more free (or reducedcost) sporting event wagers placed. In one such embodiment, an amount ofthe sporting event wager placed is based on the advertising loyaltypoint level associated with the user, wherein different advertisingloyalty point levels are associated with different amounts of thesporting event wager placed. In another such embodiment, an amount ofthe sporting event wager placed is additionally or alternatively basedon an identification of the user, such as based on a player trackingstatus of the user and/or a frequency which the user transacts with thegaming establishment, wherein different users are associated withdifferent amounts of the sporting event wager placed.

In certain embodiments, the determined benefit includes an entry in adrawing. In one such embodiment, a quantity of entries in the drawing isbased on the advertising loyalty point level associated with the user,wherein different advertising loyalty point levels are associated withdifferent quantities of drawing entries. In another such embodiment, aquantity of entries in the drawing is additionally or alternativelybased on an identification of the user, such as based on a playertracking status of the user and/or a frequency which the user transactswith the gaming establishment, wherein different users are associatedwith different quantities of drawing entries.

In certain embodiments, the determined benefit includes one or morefeatures usable in association with one or more plays of a game. Thatis, the determined benefit is associated with one or more plays of oneor more games, such as a modification to one or more game play featuresand/or an addition of one or more game play features that may or may notmodify the average expected payout of such plays of the game, whereindifferent advertising loyalty point levels are associated with differentmagnitudes of modification to the one or more features.

For example, the determined benefit includes the utilization of amodified paytable which utilizes a modified probability of triggering abonus event (or winning a progressive award). In this example, a userassociated with a silver advertising loyalty point level is provided thebenefit of utilizing a first modified paytable associated with anincrease of 0.01% of triggering a bonus event (or winning a progressiveaward), a user associated with a gold advertising loyalty point level isprovided the benefit of utilizing a second modified paytable associatedwith an increase of 0.02% of triggering a bonus (or winning aprogressive award), and a user associated with a platinum advertisingloyalty point level is provided the benefit of utilizing a thirdmodified paytable associated with an increase of 0.04% of triggering abonus event (or winning a progressive award). In this example, as seenin FIG. 4A, upon determining that the identified user qualifies as agold advertising loyalty point level, the system modifies operation ofthe EGM and notifies the user of the modification.

In another example, the determined benefit includes the utilization of asupplemental award provided to the user upon a progressive awardtriggering event occurring. In this example, upon a progressive awardtriggering event occurring, a user associated with a silver advertisingloyalty point level is provided the benefit of a supplemental award of1% of the value of the progressive award, a user associated with a goldadvertising loyalty point level is provided the benefit of asupplemental award of 2% of the value of the progressive award, and auser associated with a platinum advertising loyalty point level isprovided the benefit of a supplemental award of 5% of the value of theprogressive award. In this example, as seen in FIG. 4B, upon determiningthat the identified user qualifies as a platinum advertising loyaltypoint level, the system notifies the user that if they win a progressiveaward, they will also win a supplemental award of 5% of the currentvalue of the progressive award.

It should be appreciated that a determined benefit includes any suitablefeature which modifies any aspect of any game currently or subsequentlyplayed by the user which is associated with the determined benefit,wherein different advertising loyalty point levels are associated withdifferent magnitudes of modification to and/or activation of the one ormore features. In various embodiments, one or more features employed asa determined benefit include, but are not limited to: a featuremodifying one or more symbols available to be generated for one or moreplays of one or more games associated with the provided benefit; afeature modifying one or more wild symbols available to be generated forone or more plays of one or more games associated with the providedbenefit; a feature modifying a quantity of reels to be used for one ormore plays of one or more games associated with the provided benefit; afeature modifying which of a plurality of reel are to be used for one ormore plays of one or more games associated with the provided benefit; afeature modifying a deck of playing cards to be used for one or moreplays of one or more games associated with the provided benefit; afeature modifying a quantity of playing cards to be used for one or moreplays of one or more games associated with the provided benefit; afeature modifying a quantity of poker hands to be dealt for one or moreplays of one or more games associated with the provided benefit; abook-end wild symbols feature; a stacked wild symbols feature; anexpanding wild symbols feature; a retrigger symbol feature; ananti-terminator symbol feature; a locking reel feature, a locking symbolposition feature; a modifier, such as a multiplier, feature; a featuremodifying an amount of credits of a credit balance; a feature modifyingan amount of promotional credits; a feature modifying a placed wageramount; a feature modifying a placed side wager amount; a featuremodifying a rate of earning player tracking points; a feature modifyinga rate of earning promotional credits; a feature modifying a rate ofearning virtual credits; a feature modifying a number of wagered onpaylines; a feature modifying a wager placed on one or more paylines (oron one or more designated paylines); a feature modifying a number ofways to win wagered on; a feature modifying a wager placed on one ormore ways to win (or on one or more designated ways to win); a featuremodifying an average expected payback percentage of a subsequent play ofa game; a feature modifying an average expected payout of a subsequentplay of a game; a feature modifying one or more awards available; afeature modifying a range of awards available; a feature modifying atype of awards available; a feature modifying one or more progressiveawards; a feature modifying which progressive awards are available to bewon; a feature modifying one or more modifiers, such as multipliers,available; a feature modifying an activation of a reel (or a designatedreel); a feature modifying an activation of a plurality of reels; afeature modifying a generated outcome (or a designated generatedoutcome); a feature modifying a generated outcome (or a designatedgenerated outcome) associated with an award over a designated value; afeature modifying a generated outcome (or a designated generatedoutcome) on a designated payline; a feature modifying a generatedoutcome (or a designated generated outcome) in a scatter configuration;a feature modifying a winning way to win (or a designated winning way towin); a feature modifying a designated symbol or symbol combination; afeature modifying a generation of a designated symbol or symbolcombination on a designated payline; a feature modifying a generation ofa designated symbol or symbol combination in a scatter configuration; afeature modifying a triggering event of a play of a secondary or bonusgame; a feature modifying an activation of a secondary or bonus display(such as an award generator); a feature modifying a quantity ofactivations of a secondary or bonus display (e.g., a feature modifying aquantity of spins of an award generator); a feature modifying a quantityof sections of a secondary or bonus display (e.g., a feature modifying aquantity of sections of an award generator); a feature modifying one ormore awards of a secondary or bonus display; a feature modifying anactivation of a community award generator; a feature modifying aquantity of activations of a community award generator; a featuremodifying a quantity of sections of a community award generator; afeature modifying one or more awards of a community award generator; afeature modifying a generated outcome (or a designated generatedoutcome) in a secondary game; a feature modifying a quantity of picks ina selection game; a feature modifying a quantity of offers in an offerand acceptance game; a feature modifying a quantity of moves in a trailgame; a feature modifying an amount of free spins provided; a featuremodifying a game terminating or ending condition; a feature modifying anavailability of a secondary game; and/or a feature modifying any gameplay feature associated with any play of any game of the presentdisclosure.

It should be appreciated that in these embodiments, since one or moreplays of one or more games of chance (or games of skill), one or morewagers placed (such as one or more sporting event wagers placed), one ormore activated or modified features, and/or one or more entries into oneor more drawings may or may not result in an award for the user, suchbenefits are opportunities to obtain one or more benefits. That is,while such benefits have an average expected value (i.e., a theoreticalvalue which is based on the awards available and the probability ofobtaining any of such awards), since one or more determinationssubsequently occur in association with the determined benefit and anactual value of the determined benefit (i.e., the benefit associatedwith the determined benefit) is based on the results of suchdeterminations (wherein the actual value may be a lucrative value or avalue of zero), these determined benefits may be viewed as opportunitiesto obtain a benefit.

In certain embodiments, the determined benefit includes a static award.In one embodiment, the amount of the static award is based on theadvertising loyalty point level associated with the user, whereindifferent advertising loyalty point levels are associated with differentstatic awards. In another embodiment, the amount of the static award isadditionally or alternatively based on an identification of the user,such as based on a player tracking status of the user and/or a frequencywhich the user transacts with the gaming establishment, whereindifferent users are associated with different static award amounts.

In certain such embodiments, the determined benefit includes an amountof credits. In certain such embodiments, the determined benefit includesa quantity of player tracking points. In certain embodiments, thedetermined benefit includes a player tracking point modifier applicableto a quantity of player tracking points subsequently earned by the user.In certain embodiments, the determined benefit additionally oralternatively includes a player tracking point modifier applicable to aquantity of player tracking points previously earned by the user. Incertain embodiments, the determined benefit includes a quantity ofnon-cashable promotional credits usable to fund one or more plays of oneor more games of chance. In certain embodiments, the determined benefitincludes a quantity of virtual credits usable for a play of a social ornon-wagering game.

In certain embodiments, the determined benefit includes a conditionalaward that the user becomes eligible for based on the satisfaction ofone or more criteria. For example, if a user associated with an benefitof a conditional award places a wager on a play of a game at the gamingestablishment within a designated period of time after the advertisingloyalty point benefit realization event occurs, the system determinesthat the criteria associated with the conditional award is satisfied andthe conditional award vests (i.e., the award becomes available to theuser). It should be appreciated that any suitable criteria associatedwith the gaming establishment, associated with an entity having arelationship with the gaming establishment or independent of the gamingestablishment may be utilized to determine whether or not the usersatisfies such criteria and thus becomes eligible to receive a benefitassociated with the determined benefit.

It should be appreciated that in these embodiments, the static awardshave known values and thus represent known benefits. That is, unlikecertain benefits, such as an entry into a drawing or a play of a game ofchance, which may result in the user obtaining no value or which mayresult in the user obtaining a positive valued benefit, other benefits,such as a quantity of player tracking points will result in the userobtaining value (upon the satisfaction of zero, one or more conditions)(and thus represent static or known benefits).

Following the providing of the benefit upon the occurrence of theadvertising loyalty point benefit realization event or upon adetermination that the advertising loyalty point benefit realizationevent did not occur, the system returns to diamond 156 and monitors foran occurrence of an advertising loyalty point benefit realization event.That is, following making one or more benefits available to a user inassociation with that user's advertising loyalty point level (which isbased, at least in part, on the user's activities viewing one or moreadvertisements) or upon a determination that no event occurred whichwould cause a benefit to be realized in association with theadvertisement viewing activities of a user, the system continues tomonitor for such an event.

Accordingly, the systems and methods of the present disclosure providesa gaming currency in the form of advertising loyalty points which are inaddition to and different than certain current known gamingestablishment currencies, such as monetary credits, promotional creditsand player tracking points. The advertising loyalty points of thepresent disclosure are accumulated based on a user undertaking certainadvertiser related activities. The advertising loyalty points of thepresent disclosure are further utilized to obtain one or more benefitsat an electronic gaming machine (“EGM”) wherein different quantities ofaccumulated advertising loyalty points are associated with differentadvertising loyalty point levels associated with different benefits,such as different modifications of the EGM. As such and unlike certaingaming currencies which are accumulated based on a player's gamingactivities at one or more EGMs, the advertising loyalty points of thepresent disclosure are accumulated independent of a player's gamingactivities at any EGMs, thus freeing the player up from having to remainat a gaming establishment without forcing the player to forgo earningbenefits to be subsequently used at the gaming establishment.

Gaming Systems

The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure may beimplemented in accordance with or in conjunction with one or more of avariety of different types of gaming systems, such as, but not limitedto, those described below.

The present disclosure contemplates a variety of different gamingsystems each having one or more of a plurality of different features,attributes, or characteristics. A “gaming system” as used herein refersto various configurations of: (a) one or more central servers, centralcontrollers, or remote hosts; (b) one or more electronic gaming machinessuch as those located on a casino floor; and/or (c) one or more personalgaming devices, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, tabletcomputers or computing devices, personal digital assistants, mobilephones, and other mobile computing devices.

Thus, in various embodiments, the gaming system of the presentdisclosure includes: (a) one or more electronic gaming machines incombination with one or more central servers, central controllers, orremote hosts; (b) one or more personal gaming devices in combinationwith one or more central servers, central controllers, or remote hosts;(c) one or more personal gaming devices in combination with one or moreelectronic gaming machines; (d) one or more personal gaming devices, oneor more electronic gaming machines, and one or more central servers,central controllers, or remote hosts in combination with one another;(e) a single electronic gaming machine; (f) a plurality of electronicgaming machines in combination with one another; (g) a single personalgaming device; (h) a plurality of personal gaming devices in combinationwith one another; (i) a single central server, central controller, orremote host; and/or (j) a plurality of central servers, centralcontrollers, or remote hosts in combination with one another.

For brevity and clarity and unless specifically stated otherwise, “EGM”as used herein represents one EGM or a plurality of EGMs, “personalgaming device” as used herein represents one personal gaming device or aplurality of personal gaming devices, and “central server, centralcontroller, or remote host” as used herein represents one centralserver, central controller, or remote host or a plurality of centralservers, central controllers, or remote hosts.

As noted above, in various embodiments, the gaming system includes anEGM (or personal gaming device) in combination with a central server,central controller, or remote host. In such embodiments, the EGM (orpersonal gaming device) is configured to communicate with the centralserver, central controller, or remote host through a data network orremote communication link. In certain such embodiments, the EGM (orpersonal gaming device) is configured to communicate with another EGM(or personal gaming device) through the same data network or remotecommunication link or through a different data network or remotecommunication link.

In certain embodiments in which the gaming system includes an EGM (orpersonal gaming device) in combination with a central server, centralcontroller, or remote host, the central server, central controller, orremote host is any suitable computing device (such as a server) thatincludes at least one processor and at least one memory device or datastorage device. As further described herein, the EGM (or personal gamingdevice) includes at least one EGM (or personal gaming device) processorconfigured to transmit and receive data or signals representing events,messages, commands, or any other suitable information between the EGM(or personal gaming device) and the central server, central controller,or remote host. The at least one processor of that EGM (or personalgaming device) is configured to execute the events, messages, orcommands represented by such data or signals in conjunction with theoperation of the EGM (or personal gaming device). Moreover, the at leastone processor of the central server, central controller, or remote hostis configured to transmit and receive data or signals representingevents, messages, commands, or any other suitable information betweenthe central server, central controller, or remote host and the EGM (orpersonal gaming device). The at least one processor of the centralserver, central controller, or remote host is configured to execute theevents, messages, or commands represented by such data or signals inconjunction with the operation of the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host. One, more than one, or each of the functionsof the central server, central controller, or remote host may beperformed by the at least one processor of the EGM (or personal gamingdevice). Further, one, more than one, or each of the functions of the atleast one processor of the EGM (or personal gaming device) may beperformed by the at least one processor of the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host.

In certain such embodiments, computerized instructions for controllingany games (such as any primary or base games and/or any secondary orbonus games) displayed by the EGM (or personal gaming device) areexecuted by the central server, central controller, or remote host. Insuch “thin client” embodiments, the central server, central controller,or remote host remotely controls any games (or other suitableinterfaces) displayed by the EGM (or personal gaming device), and theEGM (or personal gaming device) is utilized to display such games (orsuitable interfaces) and to receive one or more inputs or commands. Inother such embodiments, computerized instructions for controlling anygames displayed by the EGM (or personal gaming device) are communicatedfrom the central server, central controller, or remote host to the EGM(or personal gaming device) and are stored in at least one memory deviceof the EGM (or personal gaming device). In such “thick client”embodiments, the at least one processor of the EGM (or personal gamingdevice) executes the computerized instructions to control any games (orother suitable interfaces) displayed by the EGM (or personal gamingdevice).

In various embodiments in which the gaming system includes a pluralityof EGMs (or personal gaming devices), one or more of the EGMs (orpersonal gaming devices) are thin client EGMs (or personal gamingdevices) and one or more of the EGMs (or personal gaming devices) arethick client EGMs (or personal gaming devices). In other embodiments inwhich the gaming system includes one or more EGMs (or personal gamingdevices), certain functions of one or more of the EGMs (or personalgaming devices) are implemented in a thin client environment, andcertain other functions of one or more of the EGMs (or personal gamingdevices) are implemented in a thick client environment. In one suchembodiment in which the gaming system includes an EGM (or personalgaming device) and a central server, central controller, or remote host,computerized instructions for controlling any primary or base gamesdisplayed by the EGM (or personal gaming device) are communicated fromthe central server, central controller, or remote host to the EGM (orpersonal gaming device) in a thick client configuration, andcomputerized instructions for controlling any secondary or bonus gamesor other functions displayed by the EGM (or personal gaming device) areexecuted by the central server, central controller, or remote host in athin client configuration.

In certain embodiments in which the gaming system includes: (a) an EGM(or personal gaming device) configured to communicate with a centralserver, central controller, or remote host through a data network;and/or (b) a plurality of EGMs (or personal gaming devices) configuredto communicate with one another through a data network, the data networkis a local area network (LAN) in which the EGMs (or personal gamingdevices) are located substantially proximate to one another and/or thecentral server, central controller, or remote host. In one example, theEGMs (or personal gaming devices) and the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host are located in a gaming establishment or aportion of a gaming establishment.

In other embodiments in which the gaming system includes: (a) an EGM (orpersonal gaming device) configured to communicate with a central server,central controller, or remote host through a data network; and/or (b) aplurality of EGMs (or personal gaming devices) configured to communicatewith one another through a data network, the data network is a wide areanetwork (WAN) in which one or more of the EGMs (or personal gamingdevices) are not necessarily located substantially proximate to anotherone of the EGMs (or personal gaming devices) and/or the central server,central controller, or remote host. For example, one or more of the EGMs(or personal gaming devices) are located: (a) in an area of a gamingestablishment different from an area of the gaming establishment inwhich the central server, central controller, or remote host is located;or (b) in a gaming establishment different from the gaming establishmentin which the central server, central controller, or remote host islocated. In another example, the central server, central controller, orremote host is not located within a gaming establishment in which theEGMs (or personal gaming devices) are located. In certain embodiments inwhich the data network is a WAN, the gaming system includes a centralserver, central controller, or remote host and an EGM (or personalgaming device) each located in a different gaming establishment in asame geographic area, such as a same city or a same state. Gamingsystems in which the data network is a WAN are substantially identicalto gaming systems in which the data network is a LAN, though thequantity of EGMs (or personal gaming devices) in such gaming systems mayvary relative to one another.

In further embodiments in which the gaming system includes: (a) an EGM(or personal gaming device) configured to communicate with a centralserver, central controller, or remote host through a data network;and/or (b) a plurality of EGMs (or personal gaming devices) configuredto communicate with one another through a data network, the data networkis an internet (such as the Internet) or an intranet. In certain suchembodiments, an Internet browser of the EGM (or personal gaming device)is usable to access an Internet game page from any location where anInternet connection is available. In one such embodiment, after the EGM(or personal gaming device) accesses the Internet game page, the centralserver, central controller, or remote host identifies a player beforeenabling that player to place any wagers on any plays of any wageringgames. In one example, the central server, central controller, or remotehost identifies the player by requiring a player account of the playerto be logged into via an input of a unique username and passwordcombination assigned to the player. The central server, centralcontroller, or remote host may, however, identify the player in anyother suitable manner, such as by validating a player trackingidentification number associated with the player; by reading a playertracking card or other smart card inserted into a card reader (asdescribed below); by validating a unique player identification numberassociated with the player by the central server, central controller, orremote host; or by identifying the EGM (or personal gaming device), suchas by identifying the MAC address or the IP address of the Internetfacilitator. In various embodiments, once the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host identifies the player, the central server,central controller, or remote host enables placement of one or morewagers on one or more plays of one or more primary or base games and/orone or more secondary or bonus games, and displays those plays via theInternet browser of the EGM (or personal gaming device).

The central server, central controller, or remote host and the EGM (orpersonal gaming device) are configured to connect to the data network orremote communications link in any suitable manner. In variousembodiments, such a connection is accomplished via: a conventional phoneline or other data transmission line, a digital subscriber line (DSL), aT-1 line, a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, a wireless or wiredrouting device, a mobile communications network connection (such as acellular network or mobile Internet network), or any other suitablemedium. The expansion in the quantity of computing devices and thequantity and speed of Internet connections in recent years increasesopportunities for players to use a variety of EGMs (or personal gamingdevices) to play games from an ever-increasing quantity of remote sites.Additionally, the enhanced bandwidth of digital wireless communicationsmay render such technology suitable for some or all communications,particularly if such communications are encrypted. Higher datatransmission speeds may be useful for enhancing the sophistication andresponse of the display and interaction with players.

EGM Components

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example EGM 1000 and FIGS. 4A and 4Binclude two different example EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b. The EGMs 1000,2000 a, and 2000 b are merely example EGMs, and different EGMs may beimplemented using different combinations of the components shown in theEGMs 1000, 2000 a, and 2000 b. Although the below refers to EGMs, invarious embodiments personal gaming devices (such as personal gamingdevice 2000 c of FIG. 4C) may include some or all of the belowcomponents.

In these embodiments, the EGM 1000 includes a master gaming controller1012 configured to communicate with and to operate with a plurality ofperipheral devices 1022.

The master gaming controller 1012 includes at least one processor 1010.The at least one processor 1010 is any suitable processing device or setof processing devices, such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller-basedplatform, a suitable integrated circuit, or one or moreapplication-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), configured to executesoftware enabling various configuration and reconfiguration tasks, suchas: (1) communicating with a remote source (such as a server that storesauthentication information or game information) via a communicationinterface 1006 of the master gaming controller 1012; (2) convertingsignals read by an interface to a format corresponding to that used bysoftware or memory of the EGM; (3) accessing memory to configure orreconfigure game parameters in the memory according to indicia read fromthe EGM; (4) communicating with interfaces and the peripheral devices1022 (such as input/output devices); and/or (5) controlling theperipheral devices 1022. In certain embodiments, one or more componentsof the master gaming controller 1012 (such as the at least one processor1010) reside within a housing of the EGM (described below), while inother embodiments at least one component of the master gaming controller1012 resides outside of the housing of the EGM.

The master gaming controller 1012 also includes at least one memorydevice 1016, which includes: (1) volatile memory (e.g., RAM 1009, whichcan include non-volatile RAM, magnetic RAM, ferroelectric RAM, and anyother suitable forms); (2) non-volatile memory 1019 (e.g., disk memory,FLASH memory, EPROMs, EEPROMs, memristor-based non-volatile solid-statememory, etc.); (3) unalterable memory (e.g., EPROMs 1008); (4) read-onlymemory; and/or (5) a secondary memory storage device 1015, such as anon-volatile memory device, configured to store gaming software relatedinformation (the gaming software related information and the memory maybe used to store various audio files and games not currently being usedand invoked in a configuration or reconfiguration). Any other suitablemagnetic, optical, and/or semiconductor memory may operate inconjunction with the EGM of the present disclosure. In certainembodiments, the at least one memory device 1016 resides within thehousing of the EGM (described below), while in other embodiments atleast one component of the at least one memory device 1016 residesoutside of the housing of the EGM.

The at least one memory device 1016 is configured to store, for example:(1) configuration software 1014, such as all the parameters and settingsfor a game playable on the EGM; (2) associations 1018 betweenconfiguration indicia read from an EGM with one or more parameters andsettings; (3) communication protocols configured to enable the at leastone processor 1010 to communicate with the peripheral devices 1022;and/or (4) communication transport protocols (such as TCP/IP, USB,Firewire, IEEE1394, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11x (IEEE 802.11 standards),hiperlan/2, HomeRF, etc.) configured to enable the EGM to communicatewith local and non-local devices using such protocols. In oneimplementation, the master gaming controller 1012 communicates withother devices using a serial communication protocol. A few non-limitingexamples of serial communication protocols that other devices, such asperipherals (e.g., a bill validator or a ticket printer), may use tocommunicate with the master game controller 1012 include USB, RS-232,and Netplex (a proprietary protocol developed by IGT).

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be illustrated and described herein in any of a number ofpatentable classes or context including any new and useful process,machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and usefulimprovement thereof. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure maybe implemented entirely hardware, entirely software (including firmware,resident software, micro-code, etc.) or combining software and hardwareimplementation that may all generally be referred to herein as a“circuit,” “module,” “component,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects ofthe present disclosure may take the form of a computer program productembodied in one or more computer readable media having computer readableprogram code embodied thereon.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent disclosure may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Scala, Smalltalk, Eiffel, JADE, Emerald, C++, C#, VB.NET,Python or the like, conventional procedural programming languages, suchas the “C” programming language, Visual Basic, Fortran 2003, Perl, COBOL2002, PHP, ABAP, dynamic programming languages such as Python, Ruby andGroovy, or other programming languages. The program code may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider) or in a cloud computing environment or offered as aservice such as a Software as a Service (SaaS).

Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatuses(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of thedisclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable instruction executionapparatus, create a mechanism for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that when executed can direct a computer, otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function ina particular manner, such that the instructions when stored in thecomputer readable medium produce an article of manufacture includinginstructions which when executed, cause a computer to implement thefunction/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable instruction execution apparatus, or otherdevices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on thecomputer, other programmable apparatuses or other devices to produce acomputer implemented process such that the instructions which execute onthe computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

In certain embodiments, the at least one memory device 1016 isconfigured to store program code and instructions executable by the atleast one processor of the EGM to control the EGM. The at least onememory device 1016 of the EGM also stores other operating data, such asimage data, event data, input data, random number generators (RNGs) orpseudo-RNGs, paytable data or information, and/or applicable game rulesthat relate to the play of one or more games on the EGM. In variousembodiments, part or all of the program code and/or the operating datadescribed above is stored in at least one detachable or removable memorydevice including, but not limited to, a cartridge, a disk, a CD ROM, aDVD, a USB memory device, or any other suitable non-transitory computerreadable medium. In certain such embodiments, an operator (such as agaming establishment operator) and/or a player uses such a removablememory device in an EGM to implement at least part of the presentdisclosure. In other embodiments, part or all of the program code and/orthe operating data is downloaded to the at least one memory device ofthe EGM through any suitable data network described above (such as anInternet or intranet).

The at least one memory device 1016 also stores a plurality of devicedrivers 1042. Examples of different types of device drivers includedevice drivers for EGM components and device drivers for the peripheralcomponents 1022. Typically, the device drivers 1042 utilize variouscommunication protocols that enable communication with a particularphysical device. The device driver abstracts the hardware implementationof that device. For example, a device driver may be written for eachtype of card reader that could potentially be connected to the EGM.Non-limiting examples of communication protocols used to implement thedevice drivers include Netplex, USB, Serial, Ethernet 175, Firewire, I/Odebouncer, direct memory map, serial, PCI, parallel, RF, Bluetooth™,near-field communications (e.g., using near-field magnetics), 802.11(WiFi), etc. In one embodiment, when one type of a particular device isexchanged for another type of the particular device, the at least oneprocessor of the EGM loads the new device driver from the at least onememory device to enable communication with the new device. For instance,one type of card reader in the EGM can be replaced with a seconddifferent type of card reader when device drivers for both card readersare stored in the at least one memory device.

In certain embodiments, the software units stored in the at least onememory device 1016 can be upgraded as needed. For instance, when the atleast one memory device 1016 is a hard drive, new games, new gameoptions, new parameters, new settings for existing parameters, newsettings for new parameters, new device drivers, and new communicationprotocols can be uploaded to the at least one memory device 1016 fromthe master game controller 1012 or from some other external device. Asanother example, when the at least one memory device 1016 includes aCD/DVD drive including a CD/DVD configured to store game options,parameters, and settings, the software stored in the at least one memorydevice 1016 can be upgraded by replacing a first CD/DVD with a secondCD/DVD. In yet another example, when the at least one memory device 1016uses flash memory 1019 or EPROM 1008 units configured to store games,game options, parameters, and settings, the software stored in the flashand/or EPROM memory units can be upgraded by replacing one or morememory units with new memory units that include the upgraded software.In another embodiment, one or more of the memory devices, such as thehard drive, may be employed in a game software download process from aremote software server.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory device 1016 also storesauthentication and/or validation components 1044 configured toauthenticate/validate specified EGM components and/or information, suchas hardware components, software components, firmware components,peripheral device components, user input device components, informationreceived from one or more user input devices, information stored in theat least one memory device 1016, etc.

In certain embodiments, the peripheral devices 1022 include severaldevice interfaces, such as: (1) at least one output device 1020including at least one display device 1035; (2) at least one inputdevice 1030 (which may include contact and/or non-contact interfaces);(3) at least one transponder 1054; (4) at least one wirelesscommunication component 1056; (5) at least one wired/wireless powerdistribution component 1058; (6) at least one sensor 1060; (7) at leastone data preservation component 1062; (8) at least one motion/gestureanalysis and interpretation component 1064; (9) at least one motiondetection component 1066; (10) at least one portable power source 1068;(11) at least one geolocation module 1076; (12) at least one useridentification module 1077; (13) at least one player/device trackingmodule 1078; and (14) at least one information filtering module 1079.

The at least one output device 1020 includes at least one display device1035 configured to display any game(s) displayed by the EGM and anysuitable information associated with such game(s). In certainembodiments, the display devices are connected to or mounted on ahousing of the EGM (described below). In various embodiments, thedisplay devices serve as digital glass configured to advertise certaingames or other aspects of the gaming establishment in which the EGM islocated. In various embodiments, the EGM includes one or more of thefollowing display devices: (a) a central display device; (b) a playertracking display configured to display various information regarding aplayer's player tracking status (as described below); (c) a secondary orupper display device in addition to the central display device and theplayer tracking display; (d) a credit display configured to display acurrent quantity of credits, amount of cash, account balance, or theequivalent; and (e) a bet display configured to display an amountwagered for one or more plays of one or more games. The example EGM 2000a illustrated in FIG. 4A includes a central display device 2116, aplayer tracking display 2140, a credit display 2120, and a bet display2122. The example EGM 2000 b illustrated in FIG. 4B includes a centraldisplay device 2116, an upper display device 2118, a player trackingdisplay 2140, a credit display 2120, and a bet display 2122.

In various embodiments, the display devices include, without limitation:a monitor, a television display, a plasma display, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a display based on light emitting diodes (LEDs), adisplay based on a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), adisplay based on polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display basedon a plurality of surface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a displayincluding a projected and/or reflected image, or any other suitableelectronic device or display mechanism. In certain embodiments, asdescribed above, the display device includes a touch-screen with anassociated touch-screen controller. The display devices may be of anysuitable sizes, shapes, and configurations.

The display devices of the EGM are configured to display one or moregame and/or non-game images, symbols, and indicia. In certainembodiments, the display devices of the EGM are configured to displayany suitable visual representation or exhibition of the movement ofobjects; dynamic lighting; video images; images of people, characters,places, things, and faces of cards; and the like. In certainembodiments, the display devices of the EGM are configured to displayone or more video reels, one or more video wheels, and/or one or morevideo dice. In other embodiments, certain of the displayed images,symbols, and indicia are in mechanical form. That is, in theseembodiments, the display device includes any electromechanical device,such as one or more rotatable wheels, one or more reels, and/or one ormore dice, configured to display at least one or a plurality of game orother suitable images, symbols, or indicia.

In various embodiments, the at least one output device 1020 includes apayout device. In these embodiments, after the EGM receives an actuationof a cashout device (described below), the EGM causes the payout deviceto provide a payment to the player. In one embodiment, the payout deviceis one or more of: (a) a ticket printer and dispenser configured toprint and dispense a ticket or credit slip associated with a monetaryvalue, wherein the ticket or credit slip may be redeemed for itsmonetary value via a cashier, a kiosk, or other suitable redemptionsystem; (b) a bill dispenser configured to dispense paper currency; (c)a coin dispenser configured to dispense coins or tokens (such as into acoin payout tray); and (d) any suitable combination thereof. The exampleEGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B each include aticket printer and dispenser 2136.

In certain embodiments, rather than dispensing bills, coins, or aphysical ticket having a monetary value to the player following receiptof an actuation of the cashout device, the payout device is configuredto cause a payment to be provided to the player in the form of anelectronic funds transfer, such as via a direct deposit into a bankaccount, a casino account, or a prepaid account of the player; via atransfer of funds onto an electronically recordable identification cardor smart card of the player; or via sending a virtual ticket having amonetary value to an electronic device of the player.

While any credit balances, any wagers, any values, and any awards aredescribed herein as amounts of monetary credits or currency, one or moreof such credit balances, such wagers, such values, and such awards maybe for non-monetary credits, promotional credits, of player trackingpoints or credits.

In certain embodiments, the at least one output device 1020 is a soundgenerating device controlled by one or more sound cards. In one suchembodiment, the sound generating device includes one or more speakers orother sound generating hardware and/or software configured to generatesounds, such as by playing music for any games or by playing music forother modes of the EGM, such as an attract mode. The example EGMs 2000 aand 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B each include a plurality ofspeakers 2150. In another such embodiment, the EGM provides dynamicsounds coupled with attractive multimedia images displayed on one ormore of the display devices to provide an audio-visual representation orto otherwise display full-motion video with sound to attract players tothe EGM. In certain embodiments, the EGM displays a sequence of audioand/or visual attraction messages during idle periods to attractpotential players to the EGM. The videos may be customized to provideany appropriate information.

The at least one input device 1030 may include any suitable device thatenables an input signal to be produced and received by the at least oneprocessor 1010 of the EGM.

In one embodiment, the at least one input device 1030 includes a paymentdevice configured to communicate with the at least one processor of theEGM to fund the EGM. In certain embodiments, the payment device includesone or more of: (a) a bill acceptor into which paper money is insertedto fund the EGM; (b) a ticket acceptor into which a ticket or a voucheris inserted to fund the EGM; (c) a coin slot into which coins or tokensare inserted to fund the EGM; (d) a reader or a validator for creditcards, debit cards, or credit slips into which a credit card, debitcard, or credit slip is inserted to fund the EGM; (e) a playeridentification card reader into which a player identification card isinserted to fund the EGM; or (f) any suitable combination thereof. Theexample EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B eachinclude a combined bill and ticket acceptor 2128 and a coin slot 2126.

In one embodiment, the at least one input device 1030 includes a paymentdevice configured to enable the EGM to be funded via an electronic fundstransfer, such as a transfer of funds from a bank account. In anotherembodiment, the EGM includes a payment device configured to communicatewith a mobile device of a player, such as a mobile phone, a radiofrequency identification tag, or any other suitable wired or wirelessdevice, to retrieve relevant information associated with that player tofund the EGM. When the EGM is funded, the at least one processordetermines the amount of funds entered and displays the correspondingamount on a credit display or any other suitable display as describedbelow.

In certain embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes atleast one wagering or betting device. In various embodiments, the one ormore wagering or betting devices are each: (1) a mechanical buttonsupported by the housing of the EGM (such as a hard key or aprogrammable soft key), or (2) an icon displayed on a display device ofthe EGM (described below) that is actuatable via a touch screen of theEGM (described below) or via use of a suitable input device of the EGM(such as a mouse or a joystick). One such wagering or betting device isas a maximum wager or bet device that, when actuated, causes the EGM toplace a maximum wager on a play of a game. Another such wagering orbetting device is a repeat bet device that, when actuated, causes theEGM to place a wager that is equal to the previously-placed wager on aplay of a game. A further such wagering or betting device is a bet onedevice that, when actuated, causes the EGM to increase the wager by onecredit. Generally, upon actuation of one of the wagering or bettingdevices, the quantity of credits displayed in a credit meter (describedbelow) decreases by the amount of credits wagered, while the quantity ofcredits displayed in a bet display (described below) increases by theamount of credits wagered.

In various embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes atleast one game play activation device. In various embodiments, the oneor more game play initiation devices are each: (1) a mechanical buttonsupported by the housing of the EGM (such as a hard key or aprogrammable soft key), or (2) an icon displayed on a display device ofthe EGM (described below) that is actuatable via a touch screen of theEGM (described below) or via use of a suitable input device of the EGM(such as a mouse or a joystick). After a player appropriately funds theEGM and places a wager, the EGM activates the game play activationdevice to enable the player to actuate the game play activation deviceto initiate a play of a game on the EGM (or another suitable sequence ofevents associated with the EGM). After the EGM receives an actuation ofthe game play activation device, the EGM initiates the play of the game.The example EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B eachinclude a game play activation device in the form of a game playinitiation button 2132. In other embodiments, the EGM begins game playautomatically upon appropriate funding rather than upon utilization ofthe game play activation device.

In other embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes acashout device. In various embodiments, the cashout device is: (1) amechanical button supported by the housing of the EGM (such as a hardkey or a programmable soft key), or (2) an icon displayed on a displaydevice of the EGM (described below) that is actuatable via a touchscreen of the EGM (described below) or via use of a suitable inputdevice of the EGM (such as a mouse or a joystick). When the EGM receivesan actuation of the cashout device from a player and the player has apositive (i.e., greater-than-zero) credit balance, the EGM initiates apayout associated with the player's credit balance. The example EGMs2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B each include a cashoutdevice in the form of a cashout button 2134.

In various embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes aplurality of buttons that are programmable by the EGM operator to, whenactuated, cause the EGM to perform particular functions. For instance,such buttons may be hard keys, programmable soft keys, or icons icondisplayed on a display device of the EGM (described below) that areactuatable via a touch screen of the EGM (described below) or via use ofa suitable input device of the EGM (such as a mouse or a joystick). Theexample EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B eachinclude a plurality of such buttons 2130.

In certain embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes atouch-screen coupled to a touch-screen controller or othertouch-sensitive display overlay to enable interaction with any imagesdisplayed on a display device (as described below). One such inputdevice is a conventional touch-screen button panel. The touch-screen andthe touch-screen controller are connected to a video controller. Inthese embodiments, signals are input to the EGM by touching the touchscreen at the appropriate locations.

In embodiments including a player tracking system, as further describedbelow, the at least one input device 1030 includes a card reader incommunication with the at least one processor of the EGM. The exampleEGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B each include acard reader 2138. The card reader is configured to read a playeridentification card inserted into the card reader.

The at least one wireless communication component 1056 includes one ormore communication interfaces having different architectures andutilizing a variety of protocols, such as (but not limited to) 802.11(WiFi); 802.15 (including Bluetooth™); 802.16 (WiMax); 802.22; cellularstandards such as CDMA, CDMA2000, and WCDMA; Radio Frequency (e.g.,RFID); infrared; and Near Field Magnetic communication protocols. The atleast one wireless communication component 1056 transmits electrical,electromagnetic, or optical signals that carry digital data streams oranalog signals representing various types of information.

The at least one wired/wireless power distribution component 1058includes components or devices that are configured to provide power toother devices. For example, in one embodiment, the at least one powerdistribution component 1058 includes a magnetic induction system that isconfigured to provide wireless power to one or more user input devicesnear the EGM. In one embodiment, a user input device docking region isprovided, and includes a power distribution component that is configuredto recharge a user input device without requiring metal-to-metalcontact. In one embodiment, the at least one power distributioncomponent 1058 is configured to distribute power to one or more internalcomponents of the EGM, such as one or more rechargeable power sources(e.g., rechargeable batteries) located at the EGM.

In certain embodiments, the at least one sensor 1060 includes at leastone of: optical sensors, pressure sensors, RF sensors, infrared sensors,image sensors, thermal sensors, and biometric sensors. The at least onesensor 1060 may be used for a variety of functions, such as: detectingmovements and/or gestures of various objects within a predeterminedproximity to the EGM; detecting the presence and/or identity of variouspersons (e.g., players, casino employees, etc.), devices (e.g., userinput devices), and/or systems within a predetermined proximity to theEGM.

The at least one data preservation component 1062 is configured todetect or sense one or more events and/or conditions that, for example,may result in damage to the EGM and/or that may result in loss ofinformation associated with the EGM. Additionally, the data preservationsystem 1062 may be operable to initiate one or more appropriateaction(s) in response to the detection of such events/conditions.

The at least one motion/gesture analysis and interpretation component1064 is configured to analyze and/or interpret information relating todetected player movements and/or gestures to determine appropriateplayer input information relating to the detected player movementsand/or gestures. For example, in one embodiment, the at least onemotion/gesture analysis and interpretation component 1064 is configuredto perform one or more of the following functions: analyze the detectedgross motion or gestures of a player; interpret the player's motion orgestures (e.g., in the context of a casino game being played) toidentify instructions or input from the player; utilize the interpretedinstructions/input to advance the game state; etc. In other embodiments,at least a portion of these additional functions may be implemented at aremote system or device.

The at least one portable power source 1068 enables the EGM to operatein a mobile environment. For example, in one embodiment, the EGM 300includes one or more rechargeable batteries.

The at least one geolocation module 1076 is configured to acquiregeolocation information from one or more remote sources and use theacquired geolocation information to determine information relating to arelative and/or absolute position of the EGM. For example, in oneimplementation, the at least one geolocation module 1076 is configuredto receive GPS signal information for use in determining the position orlocation of the EGM. In another implementation, the at least onegeolocation module 1076 is configured to receive multiple wirelesssignals from multiple remote devices (e.g., EGMs, servers, wirelessaccess points, etc.) and use the signal information to computeposition/location information relating to the position or location ofthe EGM.

The at least one user identification module 1077 is configured todetermine the identity of the current user or current owner of the EGM.For example, in one embodiment, the current user is required to performa login process at the EGM in order to access one or more features.Alternatively, the EGM is configured to automatically determine theidentity of the current user based on one or more external signals, suchas an RFID tag or badge worn by the current user and that provides awireless signal to the EGM that is used to determine the identity of thecurrent user. In at least one embodiment, various security features areincorporated into the EGM to prevent unauthorized users from accessingconfidential or sensitive information.

The at least one information filtering module 1079 is configured toperform filtering (e.g., based on specified criteria) of selectedinformation to be displayed at one or more displays 1035 of the EGM.

In various embodiments, the EGM includes a plurality of communicationports configured to enable the at least one processor of the EGM tocommunicate with and to operate with external peripherals, such as:accelerometers, arcade sticks, bar code readers, bill validators,biometric input devices, bonus devices, button panels, card readers,coin dispensers, coin hoppers, display screens or other displays orvideo sources, expansion buses, information panels, keypads, lights,mass storage devices, microphones, motion sensors, motors, printers,reels, SCSI ports, solenoids, speakers, thumbsticks, ticket readers,touch screens, trackballs, touchpads, wheels, and wireless communicationdevices.

As generally described above, in certain embodiments, such as theexample EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the EGMhas a support structure, housing, or cabinet that provides support for aplurality of the input devices and the output devices of the EGM.Further, the EGM is configured such that a player may operate it whilestanding or sitting. In various embodiments, the EGM is positioned on abase or stand, or is configured as a pub-style tabletop game (not shown)that a player may operate typically while sitting. As illustrated by thedifferent example EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, EGMsmay have varying housing and display configurations.

In certain embodiments, the EGM is a device that has obtained approvalfrom a regulatory gaming commission, and in other embodiments, the EGMis a device that has not obtained approval from a regulatory gamingcommission.

The EGMs described above are merely three examples of different types ofEGMs. Certain of these example EGMs may include one or more elementsthat may not be included in all gaming systems, and these example EGMsmay not include one or more elements that are included in other gamingsystems. For example, certain EGMs include a coin acceptor while othersdo not.

Operation of Primary or Base Games and/or Secondary or Bonus Games

In various embodiments, an EGM may be implemented in one of a variety ofdifferent configurations. In various embodiments, the EGM may beimplemented as one of: (a) a dedicated EGM in which computerized gameprograms executable by the EGM for controlling any primary or base games(referred to herein as “primary games”) and/or any secondary or bonusgames or other functions (referred to herein as “secondary games”)displayed by the EGM are provided with the EGM before delivery to agaming establishment or before being provided to a player; and (b) achangeable EGM in which computerized game programs executable by the EGMfor controlling any primary games and/or secondary games displayed bythe EGM are downloadable or otherwise transferred to the EGM through adata network or remote communication link; from a USB drive, flashmemory card, or other suitable memory device; or in any other suitablemanner after the EGM is physically located in a gaming establishment orafter the EGM is provided to a player.

As generally explained above, in various embodiments in which the gamingsystem includes a central server, central controller, or remote host anda changeable EGM, the at least one memory device of the central server,central controller, or remote host stores different game programs andinstructions executable by the at least one processor of the changeableEGM to control one or more primary games and/or secondary gamesdisplayed by the changeable EGM. More specifically, each such executablegame program represents a different game or a different type of gamethat the at least one changeable EGM is configured to operate. In oneexample, certain of the game programs are executable by the changeableEGM to operate games having the same or substantially the same game playbut different paytables. In different embodiments, each executable gameprogram is associated with a primary game, a secondary game, or both. Incertain embodiments, an executable game program is executable by the atleast one processor of the at least one changeable EGM as a secondarygame to be played simultaneously with a play of a primary game (whichmay be downloaded to or otherwise stored on the at least one changeableEGM), or vice versa.

In operation of such embodiments, the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host is configured to communicate one or more ofthe stored executable game programs to the at least one processor of thechangeable EGM. In different embodiments, a stored executable gameprogram is communicated or delivered to the at least one processor ofthe changeable EGM by: (a) embedding the executable game program in adevice or a component (such as a microchip to be inserted into thechangeable EGM); (b) writing the executable game program onto a disc orother media; or (c) uploading or streaming the executable game programover a data network (such as a dedicated data network). After theexecutable game program is communicated from the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host to the changeable EGM, the at least oneprocessor of the changeable EGM executes the executable game program toenable the primary game and/or the secondary game associated with thatexecutable game program to be played using the display device(s) and/orthe input device(s) of the changeable EGM. That is, when an executablegame program is communicated to the at least one processor of thechangeable EGM, the at least one processor of the changeable EGM changesthe game or the type of game that may be played using the changeableEGM.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system randomly determines any gameoutcome(s) (such as a win outcome) and/or award(s) (such as a quantityof credits to award for the win outcome) for a play of a primary gameand/or a play of a secondary game based on probability data. In certainsuch embodiments, this random determination is provided throughutilization of an RNG such as a true RNG or a pseudo RNG or any othersuitable randomization process. In one such embodiment, each gameoutcome or award is associated with a probability, and the gaming systemgenerates the game outcome(s) and/or the award(s) to be provided basedon the associated probabilities. In these embodiments, since the gamingsystem generates game outcomes and/or awards randomly or based on one ormore probability calculations, there is no certainty that the gamingsystem will ever provide any specific game outcome and/or award.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system maintains one or morepredetermined pools or sets of predetermined game outcomes and/orawards. In certain such embodiments, upon generation or receipt of agame outcome and/or award request, the gaming system independentlyselects one of the predetermined game outcomes and/or awards from theone or more pools or sets. The gaming system flags or marks the selectedgame outcome and/or award as used. Once a game outcome or an award isflagged as used, it is prevented from further selection from itsrespective pool or set; that is, the gaming system does not select thatgame outcome or award upon another game outcome and/or award request.The gaming system provides the selected game outcome and/or award.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system determines a predeterminedgame outcome and/or award based on the results of a bingo, keno, orlottery game. In certain such embodiments, the gaming system utilizesone or more bingo, keno, or lottery games to determine the predeterminedgame outcome and/or award provided for a primary game and/or a secondarygame. The gaming system is provided or associated with a bingo card.Each bingo card consists of a matrix or array of elements, wherein eachelement is designated with separate indicia. After a bingo card isprovided, the gaming system randomly selects or draws a plurality of theelements. As each element is selected, a determination is made as towhether the selected element is present on the bingo card. If theselected element is present on the bingo card, that selected element onthe provided bingo card is marked or flagged. This process of selectingelements and marking any selected elements on the provided bingo cardscontinues until one or more predetermined patterns are marked on one ormore of the provided bingo cards. After one or more predeterminedpatterns are marked on one or more of the provided bingo cards, gameoutcome and/or award is determined based, at least in part, on theselected elements on the provided bingo cards.

In certain embodiments in which the gaming system includes a centralserver, central controller, or remote host and an EGM, the EGM isconfigured to communicate with the central server, central controller,or remote host for monitoring purposes only. In such embodiments, theEGM determines the game outcome(s) and/or award(s) to be provided in anyof the manners described above, and the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host monitors the activities and events occurringon the EGM. In one such embodiment, the gaming system includes areal-time or online accounting and gaming information system configuredto communicate with the central server, central controller, or remotehost. In this embodiment, the accounting and gaming information systemincludes: (a) a player database configured to store player profiles, (b)a player tracking module configured to track players (as describedbelow), and (c) a credit system configured to provide automatedtransactions.

As noted above, in various embodiments, the gaming system includes oneor more executable game programs executable by at least one processor ofthe gaming system to provide one or more primary games and one or moresecondary games. The primary game(s) and the secondary game(s) maycomprise any suitable games and/or wagering games, such as, but notlimited to: electro-mechanical or video slot or spinning reel typegames; video card games such as video draw poker, multi-hand video drawpoker, other video poker games, video blackjack games, and videobaccarat games; video keno games; video bingo games; and video selectiongames.

In certain embodiments in which the primary game is a slot or spinningreel type game, the gaming system includes one or more reels in eitheran electromechanical form with mechanical rotating reels or in a videoform with simulated reels and movement thereof. Each reel displays aplurality of indicia or symbols, such as bells, hearts, fruits, numbers,letters, bars, or other images that typically correspond to a themeassociated with the gaming system. In certain such embodiments, thegaming system includes one or more paylines associated with the reels.The example EGM 2000 b shown in FIG. 4B includes a payline 1152 and aplurality of reels 1154. In certain embodiments, one or more of thereels are independent reels or unisymbol reels. In such embodiments,each independent reel generates and displays one symbol.

In various embodiments, one or more of the paylines is horizontal,vertical, circular, diagonal, angled, or any suitable combinationthereof. In other embodiments, each of one or more of the paylines isassociated with a plurality of adjacent symbol display areas on arequisite number of adjacent reels. In one such embodiment, one or morepaylines are formed between at least two symbol display areas that areadjacent to each other by either sharing a common side or sharing acommon corner (i.e., such paylines are connected paylines). The gamingsystem enables a wager to be placed on one or more of such paylines toactivate such paylines. In other embodiments in which one or morepaylines are formed between at least two adjacent symbol display areas,the gaming system enables a wager to be placed on a plurality of symboldisplay areas, which activates those symbol display areas.

In various embodiments, the gaming system provides one or more awardsafter a spin of the reels when specified types and/or configurations ofthe indicia or symbols on the reels occur on an active payline orotherwise occur in a winning pattern, occur on the requisite number ofadjacent reels, and/or occur in a scatter pay arrangement.

In certain embodiments, the gaming system employs a ways to win awarddetermination. In these embodiments, any outcome to be provided isdetermined based on a number of associated symbols that are generated inactive symbol display areas on the requisite number of adjacent reels(i.e., not on paylines passing through any displayed winning symbolcombinations). If a winning symbol combination is generated on thereels, one award for that occurrence of the generated winning symbolcombination is provided.

In various embodiments, the gaming system includes a progressive award.Typically, a progressive award includes an initial amount and anadditional amount funded through a portion of each wager placed toinitiate a play of a primary game. When one or more triggering eventsoccurs, the gaming system provides at least a portion of the progressiveaward. After the gaming system provides the progressive award, an amountof the progressive award is reset to the initial amount and a portion ofeach subsequent wager is allocated to the next progressive award.

As generally noted above, in addition to providing winning credits orother awards for one or more plays of the primary game(s), in variousembodiments the gaming system provides credits or other awards for oneor more plays of one or more secondary games. The secondary gametypically enables an award to be obtained addition to any award obtainedthrough play of the primary game(s). The secondary game(s) typicallyproduces a higher level of player excitement than the primary game(s)because the secondary game(s) provides a greater expectation of winningthan the primary game(s) and is accompanied with more attractive orunusual features than the primary game(s). The secondary game(s) may beany type of suitable game, either similar to or completely differentfrom the primary game.

In various embodiments, the gaming system automatically provides orinitiates the secondary game upon the occurrence of a triggering eventor the satisfaction of a qualifying condition. In other embodiments, thegaming system initiates the secondary game upon the occurrence of thetriggering event or the satisfaction of the qualifying condition andupon receipt of an initiation input. In certain embodiments, thetriggering event or qualifying condition is a selected outcome in theprimary game(s) or a particular arrangement of one or more indicia on adisplay device for a play of the primary game(s), such as a “BONUS”symbol appearing on three adjacent reels along a payline following aspin of the reels for a play of the primary game. In other embodiments,the triggering event or qualifying condition occurs based on a certainamount of game play (such as number of games, number of credits, amountof time) being exceeded, or based on a specified number of points beingearned during game play. Any suitable triggering event or qualifyingcondition or any suitable combination of a plurality of differenttriggering events or qualifying conditions may be employed.

In other embodiments, at least one processor of the gaming systemrandomly determines when to provide one or more plays of one or moresecondary games. In one such embodiment, no apparent reason is providedfor providing the secondary game. In this embodiment, qualifying for asecondary game is not triggered by the occurrence of an event in anyprimary game or based specifically on any of the plays of any primarygame. That is, qualification is provided without any explanation or,alternatively, with a simple explanation. In another such embodiment,the gaming system determines qualification for a secondary game at leastpartially based on a game triggered or symbol triggered event, such asat least partially based on play of a primary game.

In various embodiments, after qualification for a secondary game hasbeen determined, the secondary game participation may be enhancedthrough continued play on the primary game. Thus, in certainembodiments, for each secondary game qualifying event, such as asecondary game symbol, that is obtained, a given number of secondarygame wagering points or credits is accumulated in a “secondary gamemeter” configured to accrue the secondary game wagering credits orentries toward eventual participation in the secondary game. In one suchembodiment, the occurrence of multiple such secondary game qualifyingevents in the primary game results in an arithmetic or exponentialincrease in the number of secondary game wagering credits awarded. Inanother such embodiment, any extra secondary game wagering credits maybe redeemed during the secondary game to extend play of the secondarygame.

In certain embodiments, no separate entry fee or buy-in for thesecondary game is required. That is, entry into the secondary gamecannot be purchased; rather, in these embodiments entry must be won orearned through play of the primary game, thereby encouraging play of theprimary game. In other embodiments, qualification for the secondary gameis accomplished through a simple “buy-in.” For example, qualificationthrough other specified activities is unsuccessful, payment of a fee orplacement of an additional wager “buys-in” to the secondary game. Incertain embodiments, a separate side wager must be placed on thesecondary game or a wager of a designated amount must be placed on theprimary game to enable qualification for the secondary game. In theseembodiments, the secondary game triggering event must occur and the sidewager (or designated primary game wager amount) must have been placedfor the secondary game to trigger.

In various embodiments in which the gaming system includes a pluralityof EGMs, the EGMs are configured to communicate with one another toprovide a group gaming environment. In certain such embodiments, theEGMs enable players of those EGMs to work in conjunction with oneanother, such as by enabling the players to play together as a team orgroup, to win one or more awards. In other such embodiments, the EGMsenable players of those EGMs to compete against one another for one ormore awards. In one such embodiment, the EGMs enable the players ofthose EGMs to participate in one or more gaming tournaments for one ormore awards.

In various embodiments, the gaming system includes one or more playertracking systems. Such player tracking systems enable operators of thegaming system (such as casinos or other gaming establishments) torecognize the value of customer loyalty by identifying frequentcustomers and rewarding them for their patronage. Such a player trackingsystem is configured to track a player's gaming activity. In one suchembodiment, the player tracking system does so through the use of playertracking cards. In this embodiment, a player is issued a playeridentification card that has an encoded player identification numberthat uniquely identifies the player. When the player's playing trackingcard is inserted into a card reader of the gaming system to begin agaming session, the card reader reads the player identification numberoff the player tracking card to identify the player. The gaming systemtimely tracks any suitable information or data relating to theidentified player's gaming session. The gaming system also timely trackswhen the player tracking card is removed to conclude play for thatgaming session. In another embodiment, rather than requiring insertionof a player tracking card into the card reader, the gaming systemutilizes one or more portable devices, such as a mobile phone, a radiofrequency identification tag, or any other suitable wireless device, totrack when a gaming session begins and ends. In another embodiment, thegaming system utilizes any suitable biometric technology or tickettechnology to track when a gaming session begins and ends.

In such embodiments, during one or more gaming sessions, the gamingsystem tracks any suitable information or data, such as any amountswagered, average wager amounts, and/or the time at which these wagersare placed. In different embodiments, for one or more players, theplayer tracking system includes the player's account number, theplayer's card number, the player's first name, the player's surname, theplayer's preferred name, the player's player tracking ranking, anypromotion status associated with the player's player tracking card, theplayer's address, the player's birthday, the player's anniversary, theplayer's recent gaming sessions, or any other suitable data. In variousembodiments, such tracked information and/or any suitable featureassociated with the player tracking system is displayed on a playertracking display. In various embodiments, such tracked informationand/or any suitable feature associated with the player tracking systemis displayed via one or more service windows that are displayed on thecentral display device and/or the upper display device.

Web-Based Gaming

In various embodiments, the gaming system includes one or more serversconfigured to communicate with a personal gaming device—such as asmartphone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, or a laptopcomputer—to enable web-based game play using the personal gaming device.In various embodiments, the player must first access a gaming websitevia an Internet browser of the personal gaming device or execute anapplication (commonly called an “app”) installed on the personal gamingdevice before the player can use the personal gaming device toparticipate in web-based game play. In certain embodiments, the one ormore servers and the personal gaming device operate in a thin-clientenvironment. In these embodiments, the personal gaming device receivesinputs via one or more input devices (such as a touch screen and/orphysical buttons), the personal gaming device sends the received inputsto the one or more servers, the one or more servers make variousdeterminations based on the inputs and determine content to be displayed(such as a randomly determined game outcome and corresponding award),the one or more servers send the content to the personal gaming device,and the personal gaming device displays the content.

In certain such embodiments, the one or more servers must identify theplayer before enabling game play on the personal gaming device (or, insome embodiments, before enabling monetary wager-based game play on thepersonal gaming device). In these embodiments, the player must identifyherself to the one or more servers, such as by inputting the player'sunique username and password combination (or in any other mannersdescribed above.

Once identified, the one or more servers enable the player to establishan account balance from which the player can draw credits usable towager on plays of a game. In certain embodiments, the one or moreservers enable the player to initiate an electronic funds transfer totransfer funds from a bank account to the player's account balance. Inother embodiments, the one or more servers enable the player to make apayment using the player's credit card, debit card, or other suitabledevice to add money to the player's account balance. In otherembodiments, the one or more servers enable the player to add money tothe player's account balance via a peer-to-peer type application, suchas PayPal or Venmo. The one or more servers also enable the player tocash out the player's account balance (or part of it) in any suitablemanner, such as via an electronic funds transfer or by initiatingcreation of a paper check that is mailed to the player.

In certain embodiments, the one or more servers include a payment serverthat handles establishing and cashing out players' account balances anda separate game server configured to determine the outcome and anyassociated award for a play of a game. In these embodiments, the gameserver is configured to communicate with the personal gaming device andthe payment device, and the personal gaming device and the paymentdevice are not configured to directly communicate with one another. Inthese embodiments, when the game server receives data representing arequest to start a play of a game at a desired wager, the game serversends data representing the desired wager to the payment server. Thepayment server determines whether the player's account balance can coverthe desired wager (i.e., includes a monetary balance at least equal tothe desired wager).

If the payment server determines that the player's account balancecannot cover the desired wager, the payment server notifies the gameserver, which then instructs the personal gaming device to display asuitable notification to the player that the player's account balance istoo low to place the desired wager. If the payment server determinesthat the player's account balance can cover the desired wager, thepayment server deducts the desired wager from the account balance andnotifies the game server. The game server then determines an outcome andany associated award for the play of the game. The game server notifiesthe payment server of any nonzero award, and the payment serverincreases the player's account balance by the nonzero award. The gameserver sends data representing the outcome and any award to the personalgaming device, which displays the outcome and any award.

In certain embodiments, the one or more servers enable web-based gameplay using a personal gaming device only if the personal gaming devicesatisfies one or more jurisdictional requirements. In one embodiment,the one or more servers enable web-based game play using the personalgaming device only if the personal gaming device is located within adesignated geographic area (such as within certain state or countylines). In this embodiment, the geolocation module of the personalgaming device determines the location of the personal gaming device andsends the location to the one or more servers, which determine whetherthe personal gaming device is located within the designated geographicarea. In various embodiments, the one or more servers enablenon-monetary wager-based game play if the personal gaming device islocated outside of the designated geographic area.

In various embodiments, the gaming system includes an EGM configured tocommunicate with a personal gaming device—such as a smartphone, a tabletcomputer, a desktop computer, or a laptop computer—to enable tetheredmobile game play using the personal gaming device. Generally, in theseembodiments, the EGM establishes communication with the personal gamingdevice and enables the player to play games on the EGM remotely via thepersonal gaming device. In certain embodiments, the gaming systemincludes a geo-fence system that enables tethered game play within aparticular geographic area but not outside of that geographic area.

Social Network Integration

In certain embodiments, the gaming system is configured to communicatewith a social network server that hosts or partially hosts a socialnetworking website via a data network (such as the Internet) tointegrate a player's gaming experience with the player's socialnetworking account. This enables the gaming system to send certaininformation to the social network server that the social network servercan use to create content (such as text, an image, and/or a video) andpost it to the player's wall, newsfeed, or similar area of the socialnetworking website accessible by the player's connections (and incertain cases the public) such that the player's connections can viewthat information. This also enables the gaming system to receive certaininformation from the social network server, such as the player's likesor dislikes or the player's list of connections. In certain embodiments,the gaming system enables the player to link the player's player accountto the player's social networking account(s). This enables the gamingsystem to, once it identifies the player and initiates a gaming session(such as via the player logging in to a website (or an application) onthe player's personal gaming device or via the player inserting theplayer's player tracking card into an EGM), link that gaming session tothe player's social networking account(s). In other embodiments, thegaming system enables the player to link the player's social networkingaccount(s) to individual gaming sessions when desired by providing therequired login information.

For instance, in one embodiment, if a player wins a particular award(e.g., a progressive award or a jackpot award) or an award that exceedsa certain threshold (e.g., an award exceeding $1,000), the gaming systemsends information about the award to the social network server to enablethe server to create associated content (such as a screenshot of theoutcome and associated award) and to post that content to the player'swall (or other suitable area) of the social networking website for theplayer's connections to see (and to entice them to play). In anotherembodiment, if a player joins a multiplayer game and there is anotherseat available, the gaming system sends that information to the socialnetwork sever to enable the server to create associated content (such astext indicating a vacancy for that particular game) and to post thatcontent to the player's wall (or other suitable area) of the socialnetworking website for the player's connections to see (and to enticethem to fill the vacancy). In another embodiment, if the playerconsents, the gaming system sends advertisement information or offerinformation to the social network server to enable the social networkserver to create associated content (such as text or an image reflectingan advertisement and/or an offer) and to post that content to theplayer's wall (or other suitable area) of the social networking websitefor the player's connections to see. In another embodiment, the gamingsystem enables the player to recommend a game to the player'sconnections by posting a recommendation to the player's wall (or othersuitable area) of the social networking website.

Differentiating Certain Gaming Systems from General Purpose ComputingDevices

Certain of the gaming systems described herein, such as EGMs located ina casino or another gaming establishment, include certain componentsand/or are configured to operate in certain manners that differentiatethese systems from general purpose computing devices, i.e., certainpersonal gaming devices such as desktop computers and laptop computers.

For instance, EGMs are highly regulated to ensure fairness and, in manycases, EGMs are configured to award monetary awards up to multiplemillions of dollars. To satisfy security and regulatory requirements ina gaming environment, hardware and/or software architectures areimplemented in EGMs that differ significantly from those of generalpurpose computing devices. For purposes of illustration, a descriptionof EGMs relative to general purpose computing devices and some examplesof these additional (or different) hardware and/or softwarearchitectures found in EGMs are described below.

At first glance, one might think that adapting general purpose computingdevice technologies to the gaming industry and EGMs would be a simpleproposition because both general purpose computing devices and EGMsemploy processors that control a variety of devices. However, due to atleast: (1) the regulatory requirements placed on EGMs, (2) the harshenvironment in which EGMs operate, (3) security requirements, and (4)fault tolerance requirements, adapting general purpose computing devicetechnologies to EGMs can be quite difficult. Further, techniques andmethods for solving a problem in the general purpose computing deviceindustry, such as device compatibility and connectivity issues, mightnot be adequate in the gaming industry. For instance, a fault or aweakness tolerated in a general purpose computing device, such assecurity holes in software or frequent crashes, is not tolerated in anEGM because in an EGM these faults can lead to a direct loss of fundsfrom the EGM, such as stolen cash or loss of revenue when the EGM is notoperating properly or when the random outcome determination ismanipulated.

Certain differences between general purpose computing devices and EGMsare described below. A first difference between EGMs and general purposecomputing devices is that EGMs are state-based systems. A state-basedsystem stores and maintains its current state in a non-volatile memorysuch that, in the event of a power failure or other malfunction, thestate-based system can return to that state when the power is restoredor the malfunction is remedied. For instance, for a state-based EGM, ifthe EGM displays an award for a game of chance but the power to the EGMfails before the EGM provides the award to the player, the EGM storesthe pre-power failure state in a non-volatile memory, returns to thatstate upon restoration of power, and provides the award to the player.This requirement affects the software and hardware design on EGMs.General purpose computing devices are not state-based machines, and amajority of data is usually lost when a malfunction occurs on a generalpurpose computing device.

A second difference between EGMs and general purpose computing devicesis that, for regulatory purposes, the software on the EGM utilized tooperate the EGM has been designed to be static and monolithic to preventcheating by the operator of the EGM. For instance, one solution that hasbeen employed in the gaming industry to prevent cheating and to satisfyregulatory requirements has been to manufacture an EGM that can use aproprietary processor running instructions to provide the game of chancefrom an EPROM or other form of non-volatile memory. The codinginstructions on the EPROM are static (non-changeable) and must beapproved by a gaming regulators in a particular jurisdiction andinstalled in the presence of a person representing the gamingjurisdiction. Any changes to any part of the software required togenerate the game of chance, such as adding a new device driver used tooperate a device during generation of the game of chance, can requireburning a new EPROM approved by the gaming jurisdiction and reinstallingthe new EPROM on the EGM in the presence of a gaming regulator.Regardless of whether the EPROM solution is used, to gain approval inmost gaming jurisdictions, an EGM must demonstrate sufficient safeguardsthat prevent an operator or a player of an EGM from manipulating theEGM's hardware and software in a manner that gives him an unfair, and insome cases illegal, advantage.

A third difference between EGMs and general purpose computing devices isauthentication—EGMs storing code are configured to authenticate the codeto determine if the code is unaltered before executing the code. If thecode has been altered, the EGM prevents the code from being executed.The code authentication requirements in the gaming industry affect bothhardware and software designs on EGMs. Certain EGMs use hash functionsto authenticate code. For instance, one EGM stores game program code, ahash function, and an authentication hash (which may be encrypted).Before executing the game program code, the EGM hashes the game programcode using the hash function to obtain a result hash and compares theresult hash to the authentication hash. If the result hash matches theauthentication hash, the EGM determines that the game program code isvalid and executes the game program code. If the result hash does notmatch the authentication hash, the EGM determines that the game programcode has been altered (i.e., may have been tampered with) and preventsexecution of the game program code.

A fourth difference between EGMs and general purpose computing devicesis that EGMs have unique peripheral device requirements that differ fromthose of a general purpose computing device, such as peripheral devicesecurity requirements not usually addressed by general purpose computingdevices. For instance, monetary devices, such as coin dispensers, billvalidators, and ticket printers and computing devices that are used togovern the input and output of cash or other items having monetary value(such as tickets) to and from an EGM have security requirements that arenot typically addressed in general purpose computing devices. Therefore,many general purpose computing device techniques and methods developedto facilitate device connectivity and device compatibility do notaddress the emphasis placed on security in the gaming industry.

To address some of the issues described above, a number ofhardware/software components and architectures are utilized in EGMs thatare not typically found in general purpose computing devices. Thesehardware/software components and architectures, as described below inmore detail, include but are not limited to watchdog timers, voltagemonitoring systems, state-based software architecture and supportinghardware, specialized communication interfaces, security monitoring, andtrusted memory.

Certain EGMs use a watchdog timer to provide a software failuredetection mechanism. In a normally-operating EGM, the operating softwareperiodically accesses control registers in the watchdog timer subsystemto “re-trigger” the watchdog. Should the operating software fail toaccess the control registers within a preset timeframe, the watchdogtimer will timeout and generate a system reset. Typical watchdog timercircuits include a loadable timeout counter register to enable theoperating software to set the timeout interval within a certain range oftime. A differentiating feature of some circuits is that the operatingsoftware cannot completely disable the function of the watchdog timer.In other words, the watchdog timer always functions from the time poweris applied to the board.

Certain EGMs use several power supply voltages to operate portions ofthe computer circuitry. These can be generated in a central power supplyor locally on the computer board. If any of these voltages falls out ofthe tolerance limits of the circuitry they power, unpredictableoperation of the EGM may result. Though most modern general purposecomputing devices include voltage monitoring circuitry, these types ofcircuits only report voltage status to the operating software. Out oftolerance voltages can cause software malfunction, creating a potentialuncontrolled condition in the general purpose computing device. CertainEGMs have power supplies with relatively tighter voltage margins thanthat required by the operating circuitry. In addition, the voltagemonitoring circuitry implemented in certain EGMs typically has twothresholds of control. The first threshold generates a software eventthat can be detected by the operating software and an error conditionthen generated. This threshold is triggered when a power supply voltagefalls out of the tolerance range of the power supply, but is stillwithin the operating range of the circuitry. The second threshold is setwhen a power supply voltage falls out of the operating tolerance of thecircuitry. In this case, the circuitry generates a reset, haltingoperation of the EGM.

As described above, certain EGMs are state-based machines. Differentfunctions of the game provided by the EGM (e.g., bet, play, result,points in the graphical presentation, etc.) may be defined as a state.When the EGM moves a game from one state to another, the EGM storescritical data regarding the game software in a custom non-volatilememory subsystem. This ensures that the player's wager and credits arepreserved and to minimize potential disputes in the event of amalfunction on the EGM. In general, the EGM does not advance from afirst state to a second state until critical information that enablesthe first state to be reconstructed has been stored. This featureenables the EGM to recover operation to the current state of play in theevent of a malfunction, loss of power, etc. that occurred just beforethe malfunction. In at least one embodiment, the EGM is configured tostore such critical information using atomic transactions.

Generally, an atomic operation in computer science refers to a set ofoperations that can be combined so that they appear to the rest of thesystem to be a single operation with only two possible outcomes: successor failure. As related to data storage, an atomic transaction may becharacterized as series of database operations which either all occur,or all do not occur. A guarantee of atomicity prevents updates to thedatabase occurring only partially, which can result in data corruption.

To ensure the success of atomic transactions relating to criticalinformation to be stored in the EGM memory before a failure event (e.g.,malfunction, loss of power, etc.), memory that includes one or more ofthe following criteria be used: direct memory access capability; dataread/write capability which meets or exceeds minimum read/write accesscharacteristics (such as at least 5.08 Mbytes/sec (Read) and/or at least38.0 Mbytes/sec (Write)). Memory devices that meet or exceed the abovecriteria may be referred to as “fault-tolerant” memory devices.

Typically, battery-backed RAM devices may be configured to function asfault-tolerant devices according to the above criteria, whereas flashRAM and/or disk drive memory are typically not configurable to functionas fault-tolerant devices according to the above criteria. Accordingly,battery-backed RAM devices are typically used to preserve EGM criticaldata, although other types of non-volatile memory devices may beemployed. These memory devices are typically not used in typical generalpurpose computing devices.

Thus, in at least one embodiment, the EGM is configured to storecritical information in fault-tolerant memory (e.g., battery-backed RAMdevices) using atomic transactions. Further, in at least one embodiment,the fault-tolerant memory is able to successfully complete all desiredatomic transactions (e.g., relating to the storage of EGM criticalinformation) within a time period of 200 milliseconds or less. In atleast one embodiment, the time period of 200 milliseconds represents amaximum amount of time for which sufficient power may be available tothe various EGM components after a power outage event has occurred atthe EGM.

As described previously, the EGM may not advance from a first state to asecond state until critical information that enables the first state tobe reconstructed has been atomically stored. After the state of the EGMis restored during the play of a game of chance, game play may resumeand the game may be completed in a manner that is no different than ifthe malfunction had not occurred. Thus, for example, when a malfunctionoccurs during a game of chance, the EGM may be restored to a state inthe game of chance just before when the malfunction occurred. Therestored state may include metering information and graphicalinformation that was displayed on the EGM in the state before themalfunction. For example, when the malfunction occurs during the play ofa card game after the cards have been dealt, the EGM may be restoredwith the cards that were previously displayed as part of the card game.As another example, a bonus game may be triggered during the play of agame of chance in which a player is required to make a number ofselections on a video display screen. When a malfunction has occurredafter the player has made one or more selections, the EGM may berestored to a state that shows the graphical presentation just beforethe malfunction including an indication of selections that have alreadybeen made by the player. In general, the EGM may be restored to anystate in a plurality of states that occur in the game of chance thatoccurs while the game of chance is played or to states that occurbetween the play of a game of chance.

Game history information regarding previous games played such as anamount wagered, the outcome of the game, and the like may also be storedin a non-volatile memory device. The information stored in thenon-volatile memory may be detailed enough to reconstruct a portion ofthe graphical presentation that was previously presented on the EGM andthe state of the EGM (e.g., credits) at the time the game of chance wasplayed. The game history information may be utilized in the event of adispute. For example, a player may decide that in a previous game ofchance that they did not receive credit for an award that they believedthey won. The game history information may be used to reconstruct thestate of the EGM before, during, and/or after the disputed game todemonstrate whether the player was correct or not in the player'sassertion.

Another feature of EGMs is that they often include unique interfaces,including serial interfaces, to connect to specific subsystems internaland external to the EGM. The serial devices may have electricalinterface requirements that differ from the “standard” EIA serialinterfaces provided by general purpose computing devices. Theseinterfaces may include, for example, Fiber Optic Serial, opticallycoupled serial interfaces, current loop style serial interfaces, etc. Inaddition, to conserve serial interfaces internally in the EGM, serialdevices may be connected in a shared, daisy-chain fashion in whichmultiple peripheral devices are connected to a single serial channel.

The serial interfaces may be used to transmit information usingcommunication protocols that are unique to the gaming industry. Forexample, IGT's Netplex is a proprietary communication protocol used forserial communication between EGMs. As another example, SAS is acommunication protocol used to transmit information, such as meteringinformation, from an EGM to a remote device. Often SAS is used inconjunction with a player tracking system.

Certain EGMs may alternatively be treated as peripheral devices to acasino communication controller and connected in a shared daisy chainfashion to a single serial interface. In both cases, the peripheraldevices are assigned device addresses. If so, the serial controllercircuitry must implement a method to generate or detect unique deviceaddresses. General purpose computing device serial ports are not able todo this.

Security monitoring circuits detect intrusion into an EGM by monitoringsecurity switches attached to access doors in the EGM cabinet. Accessviolations result in suspension of game play and can trigger additionalsecurity operations to preserve the current state of game play. Thesecircuits also function when power is off by use of a battery backup. Inpower-off operation, these circuits continue to monitor the access doorsof the EGM. When power is restored, the EGM can determine whether anysecurity violations occurred while power was off, e.g., via software forreading status registers. This can trigger event log entries and furtherdata authentication operations by the EGM software.

Trusted memory devices and/or trusted memory sources are included in anEGM to ensure the authenticity of the software that may be stored onless secure memory subsystems, such as mass storage devices. Trustedmemory devices and controlling circuitry are typically designed to notenable modification of the code and data stored in the memory devicewhile the memory device is installed in the EGM. The code and datastored in these devices may include authentication algorithms, randomnumber generators, authentication keys, operating system kernels, etc.The purpose of these trusted memory devices is to provide gamingregulatory authorities a root trusted authority within the computingenvironment of the EGM that can be tracked and verified as original.This may be accomplished via removal of the trusted memory device fromthe EGM computer and verification of the secure memory device contentsis a separate third party verification device. Once the trusted memorydevice is verified as authentic, and based on the approval of theverification algorithms included in the trusted device, the EGM isenabled to verify the authenticity of additional code and data that maybe located in the gaming computer assembly, such as code and data storedon hard disk drives.

In at least one embodiment, at least a portion of the trusted memorydevices/sources may correspond to memory that cannot easily be altered(e.g., “unalterable memory”) such as EPROMS, PROMS, Bios, Extended Bios,and/or other memory sources that are able to be configured, verified,and/or authenticated (e.g., for authenticity) in a secure and controlledmanner.

According to one embodiment, when a trusted information source is incommunication with a remote device via a network, the remote device mayemploy a verification scheme to verify the identity of the trustedinformation source. For example, the trusted information source and theremote device may exchange information using public and privateencryption keys to verify each other's identities. In anotherembodiment, the remote device and the trusted information source mayengage in methods using zero knowledge proofs to authenticate each oftheir respective identities.

EGMs storing trusted information may utilize apparatuses or methods todetect and prevent tampering. For instance, trusted information storedin a trusted memory device may be encrypted to prevent its misuse. Inaddition, the trusted memory device may be secured behind a locked door.Further, one or more sensors may be coupled to the memory device todetect tampering with the memory device and provide some record of thetampering. In yet another example, the memory device storing trustedinformation might be designed to detect tampering attempts and clear orerase itself when an attempt at tampering has been detected.

Mass storage devices used in a general purpose computing devicestypically enable code and data to be read from and written to the massstorage device. In a gaming environment, modification of the gaming codestored on a mass storage device is strictly controlled and would only beenabled under specific maintenance type events with electronic andphysical enablers required. Though this level of security could beprovided by software, EGMs that include mass storage devices includehardware level mass storage data protection circuitry that operates atthe circuit level to monitor attempts to modify data on the mass storagedevice and will generate both software and hardware error triggersshould a data modification be attempted without the proper electronicand physical enablers being present.

It should be appreciated that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to belimiting of the disclosure. For example, the singular forms “a”, “an”and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. In another example, the terms“including” and “comprising” and variations thereof, when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Additionally, a listing ofitems does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusivenor does a listing of items imply that any or all of the items arecollectively exhaustive of anything or in a particular order, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Moreover, as used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. It should be further appreciated that headingsof sections provided in this document and the title are for convenienceonly, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.Furthermore, unless expressly specified otherwise, devices that are incommunication with each other need not be in continuous communicationwith each other and may communicate directly or indirectly through oneor more intermediaries.

In various embodiments, the processes of the present disclosure arerepresented by a set of instructions stored in one or more memories andexecuted by one or more processors. Although certain of the processes ofthe present disclosure are described with reference to one or moreflowcharts, many other processes of performing the acts associated withthese illustrated processes may be employed. For example, the order ofcertain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be changed, certain ofthe illustrated blocks or diamonds may be optional, or certain of theillustrated blocks or diamonds may not be employed.

Various changes and modifications to the present embodiments describedherein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, adescription of an embodiment with several components in communicationwith each other does not imply that all such components are required, orthat each of the disclosed components must communicate with every othercomponent. On the contrary a variety of optional components aredescribed to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of thepresent disclosure. As such, these changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended technical scope. It istherefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by theappended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A gaming system comprising: a displaydevice; a processor; and a memory device that stores a plurality ofinstructions that, when executed by the processor responsive to anoccurrence of a triggering event, cause the processor to: responsive toan identified user being associated with a first advertising loyaltypoint level at least partially based on a first quantity ofadvertisements consumed, prior to a play of a game, remote from thedisplay device and independent of any content generated by theprocessor, cause the display device to display a first operationalmodification associated with the play of the game, wherein the firstquantity of advertisements are consumed after the user has logged intoan advertisement tracking account maintained by an advertisementtracking server that is distinct from the processor, and responsive tothe identified user being associated with a second, differentadvertising loyalty point level at least partially based on a secondquantity of advertisements consumed, prior to the play of the game,remote from the display device and independent of any content generatedby the processor, cause the display device to display a second,different operational modification associated with the play of the game,wherein the second quantity of advertisements are consumed after theuser has logged into the advertisement tracking account maintained bythe advertisement tracking server.
 2. The gaming system of claim 1,wherein the occurrence of the triggering event is based on a redemption,via an input device, of a quantity of advertising loyalty pointsaccumulated in association with the identified user.
 3. The gamingsystem of claim 1, wherein the first operational modification comprisesa first increase of an average expected payout of a paytable associatedwith the play of the game and the second, different operationalmodification comprises a second, different increase of the averageexpected payout of the paytable associated with the play of the game. 4.The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first operational modificationcomprises a first increase of a probability of triggering a bonus eventin association with the play of the game and the second, differentoperational modification comprises a second, different increase of aprobability of triggering the bonus event in association with the playof the game.
 5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first quantityof advertisements consumed equals the second quantity of advertisementsconsumed.
 6. A gaming system comprising: a display device; a processor;and a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor responsive to an occurrence of a triggeringevent, cause the processor to: responsive to an advertising loyaltypoint level associated with an identified user being a first advertisingloyalty point level, and a quantity of accumulated advertising loyaltypoints associated with the identified user being a first quantity ofaccumulated advertising loyalty points, cause the display device todisplay a first benefit, wherein the quantity of accumulated advertisingloyalty points associated with the identified user is at least partiallybased on a first quantity of advertisements consumed, prior to theoccurrence of the triggering event and after the user has logged into anadvertisement tracking account maintained by an advertisement trackingserver that is distinct from the processor, remote from the displaydevice and independent of any content generated by the processor,responsive to the advertising loyalty point level associated with theidentified user being the first advertising loyalty point level, and thequantity of accumulated advertising loyalty points associated with theidentified user being a second, different quantity of accumulatedadvertising loyalty points, cause the display device to display asecond, different benefit, and responsive to the advertising loyaltypoint level associated with the identified user being a second,different advertising loyalty point level, and the quantity ofaccumulated advertising loyalty points associated with the identifieduser being the first quantity of accumulated advertising loyalty points,cause the display device to display the second, different benefit. 7.The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the triggering event comprises awin of a progressive award, the first benefit comprises a firstadditional award based on a first percentage of the progressive awardand the second benefit comprises a second, different additional awardbased on a second, different percentage of the progressive award.
 8. Thegaming system of claim 6, wherein the triggering event comprises aninitiation of a sequence including a quantity of plays of a game, thefirst benefit comprises a first additional quantity of plays of the gameof the initiated sequence and the second benefit comprises a second,different additional quantity of plays of the game of the initiatedsequence.
 9. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the triggering eventcomprises a play of a game, the first benefit comprises a firstmodification of an average expected payout of a paytable associated withthe play of the game and the second benefit comprises a second,different modification of the average expected payout of the paytableassociated with the play of the game.
 10. The gaming system of claim 6,wherein the quantity of accumulated advertising loyalty points isdistinct from any credits, distinct from any promotional credits, anddistinct from any player tracking points.
 11. The gaming system of claim6, wherein when executed by the processor after the occurrence of thetriggering event, the instructions cause the processor to cause thedisplay device to display a reduction of the quantity of accumulatedadvertising loyalty points associated with the identified user.
 12. Thegaming system of claim 6, wherein the first quantity of advertisementsconsumed equals the second quantity of advertisements consumed.